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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cue · rock · rule · wax · mouse · racket · fan · trunk

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. wax — to grow
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. rock — music
  9. rule — a law
  10. cue — a signal
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. cue — for pool
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. rule — government
  23. cue — a hint
  24. wax — for sculpting

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