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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 · wax · pitch · pop · swing · roll · cue · lie

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. pop — to visit
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. swing — in golf
  5. cue — a signal
  6. swing — music
  7. swing — to play on
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. cue — for pool
  10. lie — to recline
  11. wax — to grow
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — music
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. roll — a cake
  18. rock — a stone
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. roll — a list
  21. pop — soda
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. pop — music
  24. cue — a hint

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