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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · chip · pitcher · ball · trunk · racket · ruler

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. ball — a dance
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. chip — to eat
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mark — a trace
  15. wax — to grow
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. chip — for betting
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mark — a grade
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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