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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: date · mouse · charge · object · sharp · cue · wax · pit

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. date — the fruit
  3. pit — a hole
  4. cue — a hint
  5. charge — electricity
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. cue — a signal
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. cue — for pool
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. object — a thing
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. charge — a price
  19. sharp — clever
  20. wax — to grow
  21. charge — in control
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — to protest

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