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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. swing — music
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. mate — a friend
  9. craft — boats
  10. craft — a skill
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. mate — to breed
  13. hand — help
  14. rush — hurry
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. swing — to play on
  18. hand — in cards
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. stem — to come from
  23. swing — in golf
  24. mate — a partner

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