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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: march · rock · leaves · cue · wax · cap · roll · ruler

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. march — the month
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. march — music
  7. roll — a list
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. cue — for pool
  10. rock — music
  11. march — the month
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. roll — a cake
  14. cue — a signal
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cue — a hint
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cap — a hat
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cap — of ice
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. cap — a lid

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