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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: cue · plane · ground · staff · foot · mouse · tube · wave

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. tube — a container
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — a measure
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. ground — crushed
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. tube — the underground
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. plane — a tool
  15. staff — a stick
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. ground — a position
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. cue — a hint
  20. staff — employees
  21. cue — a signal
  22. ground — the earth
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. staff — employees

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