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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: wound · dip · can · cue · bulb · bound · wax · stand

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bound — certain
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. cue — for pool
  8. bound — tied together
  9. cue — a hint
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — to grow
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bulb — for light
  14. wound — an injury
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. cue — a signal
  17. wound — an injury
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. can — a tin
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bulb — for light
  23. can — to be able to
  24. wax — for sculpting

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