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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 124 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. suit — clothes
  3. cue — a signal
  4. suit — in cards
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. suit — to fit
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. cue — a hint
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bulb — for light
  12. club — a group
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. cue — for pool
  17. wax — to grow
  18. stem — to come from
  19. club — for dancing
  20. club — for golf
  21. bulb — for light
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. bulb — of a plant

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