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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: deal · cue · track · wax · stand · face · toast · hide

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. track — a path
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. stand — to bear
  7. track — a song
  8. wax — to grow
  9. cue — for pool
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. face — to point toward
  13. face — part of the head
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. deal — to handle
  17. face — to confront
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. cue — a signal
  20. track — to keep track
  21. cue — a hint
  22. toast — bread
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. deal — an agreement

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