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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 120 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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bass — low music
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bank — for money
  7. season — in sport
  8. season — of the year
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. stock — shares
  13. bound — certain
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. wax — to grow
  17. bank — for money
  18. bass — the fish
  19. stock — goods
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. bank — of a river

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