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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: arm · ruler · wake · trunk · wax · fine · shower · leaves

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. wax — to grow
  3. fine — high quality
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. wake — a trail
  17. shower — rain
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. fine — all right
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. shower — to wash

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