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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: rash · suit · straw · cue · bore · wax · pass · staff

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. wax — to grow
  3. bore — to tire
  4. cue — a signal
  5. staff — employees
  6. suit — to fit
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. cue — for pool
  12. pass — a permit
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. suit — clothes
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bore — to drill
  20. staff — employees
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. cue — a hint
  23. staff — a stick
  24. suit — in cards

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