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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — obliged
  12. wax — to grow
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bound — certain
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. wind — moving air
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. wind — moving air
  24. nail — for a hammer

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