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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · racket · firm · toast · trunk · leaves · wax · rule

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. firm — a company
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. wax — to grow
  11. firm — decided
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. rule — a law
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. toast — bread
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. firm — steady
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. rule — to rule out

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