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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: file · ruler · charge · date · snap · jam · saw · wax

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. snap — to click
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. wax — to grow
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. date — the fruit
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. file — a line of people
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — electricity
  13. saw — the tool
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. file — a tool
  19. charge — in control
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. file — a document
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. date — on the calendar

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