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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.

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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: mug · court · foot · cue · wax · pop · can · scale

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cue — a signal
  3. can — a tin
  4. court — of a king
  5. cue — a hint
  6. scale — size or range
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. can — a tin
  9. pop — music
  10. wax — to grow
  11. can — to be able to
  12. scale — in music
  13. court — for sport
  14. pop — soda
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. mug — a face
  19. cue — for pool
  20. court — of law
  21. mug — to rob
  22. foot — a measure
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pop — to visit

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