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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 116 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: chair · wax · root · lie · bank · mug · ruler · firm

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. firm — decided
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. root — of a word
  5. root — of a plant
  6. firm — steady
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bank — for money
  13. lie — to recline
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bank — for money
  18. mug — a cup
  19. chair — a leader
  20. bank — of a river
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. firm — a company
  24. root — the cause

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