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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 120 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: branch · wax · suit · dip · cabinet · pass · mine · cue

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. pass — a permit
  3. suit — clothes
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a signal
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. wax — to grow
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. suit — to fit
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. branch — a division
  18. dip — to sink
  19. suit — in cards
  20. cue — a hint
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. dip — to dunk

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