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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 116 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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. net — after costs
  7. bear — the animal
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. current — happening now
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. net — in sport
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. net — for catching
  16. current — electric
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. current — of water
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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