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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wax — to grow
  4. ground — a position
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. net — for catching
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. net — after costs
  16. ground — crushed
  17. net — in sport
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. pound — a weight
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. ball — a dance

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