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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 120 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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. cue — a hint
  3. rest — what's left
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. rest — a break
  7. mug — a cup
  8. deal — to handle
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — employees
  11. cue — a signal
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — completely
  14. mug — to rob
  15. staff — a stick
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. rest — what's left
  18. plane — a tool
  19. mug — a face
  20. cue — for pool
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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