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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. season — in sport
  3. mark — a grade
  4. current — of water
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. cue — a signal
  7. current — electric
  8. season — of the year
  9. cue — for pool
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bass — low music
  20. squash — the sport
  21. wax — to grow
  22. current — happening now
  23. squash — to crush
  24. cue — a hint

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com