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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · toast · court · current · cue · mouse · arm · wax

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. court — of a king
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. toast — bread
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. current — of water
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. court — of law
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. cue — a hint
  12. court — for sport
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. current — happening now
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. wax — to grow
  24. racket — for tennis

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