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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. date — the fruit
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. mate — a partner
  13. wax — to grow
  14. mate — to breed
  15. board — to get on
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mate — a friend
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. rule — government
  24. board — a committee

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