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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: ruler · season · lie · pit · wax · pound · can · rush

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pit — a hole
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. wax — to grow
  13. can — a tin
  14. season — in sport
  15. pound — a weight
  16. pit — in a race
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. rush — hurry
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. rush — a thrill

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