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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: cue · wound · plane · suit · stem · bass · calf · wax

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. cue — for pool
  5. suit — to fit
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. bass — low music
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. suit — clothes
  10. wound — an injury
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bass — the fish
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — to grow
  15. stem — to come from
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. plane — a tool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. suit — in cards
  20. wound — an injury
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. wax — for sculpting

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