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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mark — a trace
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. suit — to fit
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. mark — a grade
  10. wax — to grow
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. date — the fruit
  17. suit — in cards
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. suit — clothes
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lie — to recline
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. lie — an untruth

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