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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: mug · tube · board · staff · wax · perch · racket · toast

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. tube — the underground
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. board — to get on
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. toast — bread
  9. staff — employees
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. mug — a cup
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. tube — a container
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. perch — the fish
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. staff — a stick
  18. wax — to grow
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. board — a committee
  23. mug — to rob
  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