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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: clip · wax · mug · ruler · leaves · hand · suit · kick

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. suit — in cards
  6. clip — to cut
  7. hand — help
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. hand — in cards
  10. clip — for paper
  11. suit — to fit
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. kick — in football
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. mug — to rob
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. wax — to grow
  21. suit — clothes
  22. mug — a cup
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. clip — a video

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