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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: bowl · chip · cue · current · wax · rash · field · ruler

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. chip — for betting
  8. cue — for pool
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. cue — a hint
  11. field — for sport
  12. rash — a series
  13. wax — to grow
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. cue — a signal
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. current — happening now
  21. rash — hasty
  22. field — farmland
  23. field — a subject
  24. chip — to eat

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