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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. net — after costs
  4. rash — hasty
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. rash — a series
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. board — to get on
  12. net — for catching
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. wax — to grow
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. net — in sport
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. foot — a measure
  23. bulb — for light
  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