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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.

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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 · bank · ruler · cabinet · rash · bulb · wax · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. rash — a series
  3. track — a path
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — of a river
  7. cue — for pool
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. track — a song
  10. rash — hasty
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. track — to keep track
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bank — for money
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. wax — in the ear

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