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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. toast — bread
  4. row — to paddle
  5. row — a line
  6. rock — music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. current — of water
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. current — electric
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. current — happening now
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. wax — to grow

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