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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. current — of water
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. current — happening now
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. firm — a company
  10. current — electric
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pit — in a race
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bulb — for light
  15. wax — to grow
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. pit — a hole
  19. firm — steady
  20. bulb — for light
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a great time
  24. firm — decided

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