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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fall — to drop
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. sharp — clever
  10. fall — to drop
  11. fall — the season
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. wake — a trail
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — to trim
  24. wake — before a funeral

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