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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. swing — to play on
  3. swing — music
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. wax — to grow
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. hand — in cards
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bulb — for light
  19. branch — a division
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. swing — in golf
  24. hand — help

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