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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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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. wax — to grow
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. current — of water
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. saw — the tool
  15. current — happening now
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. current — electric
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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