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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 · can · rush · wax · ruler · drill · bore · dip

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. can — a tin
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. cue — for pool
  5. wax — to grow
  6. rush — hurry
  7. can — a tin
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. drill — a practice
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bore — to drill
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. drill — the tool
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. can — to be able to
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. cue — a hint
  22. dip — to sink
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bore — to tire

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