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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 120 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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. season — of the year
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. wax — to grow
  8. land — a country
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. root — of a word
  13. season — in sport
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. root — the cause
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. land — to come down
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. land — ground

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