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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. spring — of water
  5. hand — in cards
  6. can — to be able to
  7. spring — the season
  8. scale — in music
  9. spring — a coil
  10. bound — tied together
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. can — a tin
  14. pass — a permit
  15. can — a tin
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. scale — size or range
  18. bound — obliged
  19. hand — help
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. wax — to grow
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. bound — certain
  24. pass — to succeed

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