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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: mug · wax · staff · ruler · wave · board · rush · clip

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. mug — a cup
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. clip — a video
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. staff — employees
  8. board — to get on
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. staff — employees
  11. clip — for paper
  12. mug — to rob
  13. staff — a stick
  14. board — a committee
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. clip — to cut
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mug — a face

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