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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: mug · march · charge · wave · hand · toast · cue · rock

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. cue — for pool
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. mug — a face
  6. cue — a signal
  7. march — the month
  8. rock — music
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. charge — electricity
  11. march — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. toast — bread
  15. hand — help
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. charge — in control
  18. mug — a cup
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. mug — to rob
  21. charge — a price
  22. rock — a stone
  23. hand — in cards
  24. cue — a hint

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