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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The water is too ________________.
  10. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. hand — in cards
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. suit — clothes
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. cold — not warm
  10. cold — an illness
  11. wax — to grow
  12. key — for a lock
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. key — in music
  15. hand — help
  16. cold — the Cold War
  17. rush — hurry
  18. suit — in cards
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. key — the most important part
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. plane — a tool
  24. wax — in the ear

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