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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.

Make a worksheet

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: saw · wave · bound · cue · perch · lie · wax · jam

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bound — certain
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. perch — the fish
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. cue — a hint
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bound — tied together
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. lie — to recline
  23. cue — a signal
  24. perch — for a bird

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