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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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cue — for pool
  5. hand — help
  6. race — a contest
  7. race — the arms race
  8. cap — of ice
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. cue — a hint
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. cap — a lid
  14. stand — to bear
  15. board — to get on
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — a committee
  20. cap — a hat
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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