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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 116 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
468
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: mug · branch · chip · cap · staff · wax · bear · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. chip — for betting
  3. chip — to eat
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mug — a face
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mug — a cup
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. cap — of ice
  15. staff — employees
  16. cap — a lid
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. staff — employees
  21. mug — to rob
  22. branch — a division
  23. cap — a hat
  24. staff — a stick

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