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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.

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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: wax · mark · charge · cue · bat · pitcher · squash · ruler

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bat — the animal
  5. cue — a signal
  6. mark — a grade
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. cue — for pool
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — electricity
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a trace
  13. squash — to crush
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wax — to grow
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cue — a hint
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. ruler — for measuring

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