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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wax — to grow
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. chip — for betting
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. key — in music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. chip — to eat
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. key — the most important part
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. key — for a lock
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. nail — on a finger

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