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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ball — a dance
  4. march — the month
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. march — the month
  7. charge — in control
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. can — a tin
  11. march — music
  12. sharp — clever
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. current — electric
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. current — happening now
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. current — of water
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. charge — electricity

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