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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: cue · object · rush · wax · lean · can · firm · kid

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. can — a tin
  5. cue — for pool
  6. object — to protest
  7. wax — to grow
  8. kid — child
  9. firm — steady
  10. object — an aim
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. cue — a signal
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. firm — decided
  15. rush — hurry
  16. can — to be able to
  17. firm — a company
  18. lean — to bend
  19. lean — thin
  20. object — a thing
  21. can — a tin
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. cue — a hint
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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