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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. net — after costs
  4. wound — an injury
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. fine — all right
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. net — in sport
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. hand — help
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. rock — a stone
  18. wound — an injury
  19. net — for catching
  20. hand — in cards
  21. fine — high quality
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  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