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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.

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: pop · staff · cue · toast · lash · wax · drill · bowl

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. pop — to visit
  4. staff — employees
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. cue — a hint
  7. staff — a stick
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. drill — the tool
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pop — music
  15. drill — army training
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. toast — bread
  21. drill — a practice
  22. pop — soda
  23. staff — employees
  24. bowl — a football final

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