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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: club · lie · wake · wax · rock · content · cue · can

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. content — happy
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. club — for dancing
  5. club — a group
  6. lie — to recline
  7. cue — a hint
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. cue — for pool
  10. wake — a trail
  11. can — a tin
  12. content — the amount
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. can — a tin
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. club — for golf
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. wax — to grow
  22. cue — a signal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rock — music

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