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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. craft — a skill
  3. wake — a trail
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. content — the amount
  7. stock — goods
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. content — happy
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. branch — a division
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. stock — shares
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. deal — to handle
  23. craft — boats
  24. branch — of a tree

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