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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: rock · can · cue · suit · bore · wax · charge · race

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. charge — electricity
  3. charge — a price
  4. can — to be able to
  5. cue — a hint
  6. suit — to fit
  7. race — humankind
  8. cue — for pool
  9. suit — in cards
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. can — a tin
  12. race — the arms race
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bore — to drill
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. rock — a stone
  19. charge — in control
  20. cue — a signal
  21. can — a tin
  22. rock — music
  23. race — a contest
  24. rock — to move gently

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