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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pass — a permit
  6. ball — a dance
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. row — to paddle
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. row — a line
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. ball — a great time
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. mine — for digging
  21. wax — to grow
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. cabinet — ministers

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