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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  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. rock — a stone
  2. can — to be able to
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. fine — high quality
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. wax — to grow
  12. cue — a hint
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. branch — a division
  17. rock — music
  18. can — a tin
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. fine — all right
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — hurry
  23. ruler — for measuring
  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