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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: tube · arm · wax · wake · roll · cue · club · key

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. cue — for pool
  3. key — in music
  4. club — a group
  5. roll — a list
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. club — for golf
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. wax — to grow
  13. cue — a hint
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. tube — the underground
  16. wake — a trail
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. key — the most important part
  19. cue — a signal
  20. roll — a cake
  21. club — for dancing
  22. key — for a lock
  23. tube — a container
  24. arm — part of the body

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