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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pop — music
  4. rash — hasty
  5. suit — clothes
  6. spring — a coil
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pop — to visit
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rash — a series
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. mug — a face
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. suit — to fit
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. spring — of water
  18. spring — the season
  19. pop — soda
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. wax — to grow
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mug — a cup
  24. wax — for sculpting

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