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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: mine · cue · wake · rush · wax · suit · key · fine

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. suit — clothes
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. key — for a lock
  5. wake — a trail
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. rush — hurry
  9. mine — for digging
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. key — in music
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. key — the most important part
  16. wax — to grow
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. suit — to fit
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. suit — in cards
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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