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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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. press — to push
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. lean — thin
  11. saw — the tool
  12. lean — to bend
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. date — the fruit
  15. rule — a law
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. saw — the tool
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. press — newspapers
  20. wax — to grow
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. press — a publisher
  24. rule — to rule out

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