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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. cell — in biology
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. cell — a phone
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. squash — the sport
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. roll — a list
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. squash — to crush
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. roll — a cake
  24. wax — for sculpting

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