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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. press — to push
  4. wax — to grow
  5. suit — in cards
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. lean — to bend
  8. press — a publisher
  9. lean — thin
  10. land — a country
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. suit — to fit
  14. land — ground
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. suit — clothes
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. land — to come down
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. current — happening now
  24. press — newspapers

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