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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bound — tied together
  4. wake — a trail
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wax — to grow
  9. pound — a weight
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. charge — a price
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bound — certain
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. charge — in control
  18. sharp — clever
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bound — obliged
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. charge — electricity
  24. jam — in traffic

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