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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 120 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: current · rush · wax · leaves · snap · kick · cue · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. wax — to grow
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. snap — to click
  6. cue — a signal
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rush — hurry
  10. current — electric
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. current — of water
  15. cue — a hint
  16. current — happening now
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. kick — in football
  21. cue — for pool
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. plane — a tool
  24. leaves — to go away

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