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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rock — a stone
  3. ball — a dance
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. wax — to grow
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. present — the time now
  15. branch — a division
  16. present — there
  17. present — a gift
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. rock — music
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. ruler — for measuring

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