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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rush — hurry
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pass — a permit
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. mine — for digging
  14. wax — to grow
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. can — a tin
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. can — a tin

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