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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: content · ruler · spell · tube · mug · wave · nail · bass

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. spell — letters
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. tube — the underground
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. spell — a short time
  14. tube — a container
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. content — the amount
  20. bass — low music
  21. content — happy
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bass — the fish
  24. mug — a face

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