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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 · swing · firm · can · wax · bore · cue · cap

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. cap — a lid
  3. swing — music
  4. cue — a hint
  5. track — a path
  6. swing — to play on
  7. track — to keep track
  8. cap — a hat
  9. cue — for pool
  10. swing — in golf
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. cap — of ice
  13. can — to be able to
  14. firm — steady
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. track — a song
  17. bore — to tire
  18. firm — decided
  19. can — a tin
  20. cue — a signal
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. firm — a company
  24. can — a tin

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