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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
468
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 · mark · drill · suit · net · toast · ruler · ground

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. drill — the tool
  4. mark — a grade
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mark — a trace
  7. drill — a practice
  8. ground — crushed
  9. net — for catching
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. ground — a position
  12. toast — bread
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. net — in sport
  15. wax — to grow
  16. net — after costs
  17. suit — to fit
  18. drill — army training
  19. ground — the earth
  20. suit — clothes
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. mark — to pay attention

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