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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
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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: cabinet · mate · cue · object · pitcher · wax · ground · rush

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. object — a thing
  3. object — an aim
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rush — hurry
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ground — crushed
  8. wax — to grow
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cue — a hint
  16. mate — a partner
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. mate — to breed
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mate — a friend
  22. ground — the earth
  23. object — to protest
  24. ground — a position

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