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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: wax · craft · clip · ruler · bulb · cue · rock · wind

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. wind — to turn a key
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wax — to grow
  7. clip — a video
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. craft — boats
  12. rock — a stone
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. clip — for paper
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. wind — moving air
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. rock — music
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. cue — a signal
  23. clip — to cut
  24. craft — a skill

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