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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 · wax · cabinet · trunk · stand · patient · charge · saw

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. charge — in control
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. stand — to bear
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. charge — electricity
  16. wax — to grow
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. saw — the tool
  22. charge — a price
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. patient — a sick person

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