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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: bear · wax · bore · last · suit · rash · fan · ruler

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. last — to go on
  7. suit — clothes
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. last — final
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bear — the animal
  18. rash — hasty
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. last — finally
  24. fan — to cool the air

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