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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. cap — of ice
  7. wax — to grow
  8. last — to go on
  9. bank — for money
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. shower — rain
  12. shower — to wash
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. last — finally
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. cap — a lid
  17. bank — of a river
  18. cap — a hat
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. bank — for money
  21. last — final
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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