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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: racket · wax · bat · mouse · bore · ball · safe · cue

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bat — the animal
  7. bore — to drill
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. cue — a hint
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — to grow
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cue — for pool
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a great time
  24. cue — a signal

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