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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.

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: lash · mine · ruler · lie · chip · capital · rush · wax

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. chip — to eat
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. mine — for digging
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. chip — for betting
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. capital — money
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. capital — a city
  19. lie — to recline
  20. wax — to grow
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. rush — hurry
  24. chip — in a computer

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