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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. charge — in control
  3. fall — the season
  4. bear — the animal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. rock — a stone
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. charge — a price
  10. season — in sport
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. fall — to drop
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. fall — to drop
  15. cue — a hint
  16. wax — to grow
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cue — a signal
  19. charge — electricity
  20. rock — music
  21. season — of the year
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. leaves — to go away

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