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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. fine — high quality
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — to grow
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. last — to go on
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. pop — soda
  11. pop — to visit
  12. fine — all right
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. fork — in a road
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. can — to be able to
  18. last — finally
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. can — a tin
  21. last — final
  22. pop — music
  23. fine — a penalty
  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