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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. mug — a cup
  5. stock — shares
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rest — a break
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. wax — to grow
  13. board — a committee
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mug — a face
  16. tube — the underground
  17. mug — to rob
  18. rest — what's left
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. board — to get on
  22. tube — a container
  23. rest — what's left
  24. mouse — the animal

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