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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.

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: wax · scale · ruler · fork · cue · mine · track · leaves

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. fork — in a road
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. cue — for pool
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. scale — in music
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. track — to keep track
  9. mine — for digging
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. track — a song
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. wax — to grow
  15. scale — size or range
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cue — a signal
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. track — a path
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. cue — a hint

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