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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: track · wax · cue · sharp · bound · jam · cabinet · craft

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. wax — to grow
  3. track — a path
  4. bound — obliged
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. cue — for pool
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. craft — a skill
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. sharp — clever
  15. track — a song
  16. bound — certain
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cue — a hint
  20. track — to keep track
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bound — tied together
  23. craft — boats
  24. sharp — exactly

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