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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: wave · rush · toast · fine · branch · key · cue · face

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cue — a signal
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. cue — for pool
  5. key — in music
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. fine — all right
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — the most important part
  12. cue — a hint
  13. face — part of the head
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — hurry
  16. branch — a division
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. face — to confront
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. fine — high quality
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. face — to point toward
  24. toast — the most admired

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