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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 116 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: suit · court · deal · wax · ruler · ball · season · lie

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. season — of the year
  3. court — of a king
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. suit — to fit
  10. court — for sport
  11. suit — clothes
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wax — to grow
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — to recline
  16. deal — to handle
  17. ball — a dance
  18. suit — in cards
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. court — of law
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. season — in sport
  23. ball — a great time
  24. deal — a big deal

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