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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 120 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: wax · staff · pass · can · ruler · fine · wind · bear

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wind — moving air
  3. wind — moving air
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. can — a tin
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wax — to grow
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. can — a tin
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. fine — high quality
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. staff — employees
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fine — all right
  22. staff — employees
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. staff — a stick

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