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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 120 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. fall — the season
  3. current — electric
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. march — the month
  7. suit — clothes
  8. dip — to sink
  9. current — of water
  10. suit — in cards
  11. march — music
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fall — to drop
  15. wax — to grow
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. fall — to drop
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. current — happening now
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. wax — in the ear

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