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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: roll · branch · wave · stand · wax · rush · ruler · object

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. roll — a list
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. rush — hurry
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. roll — a cake
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. stand — to bear
  11. branch — a division
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. object — an aim
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. object — to protest
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. object — a thing
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. ruler — for measuring

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