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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: ruler · spring · march · chip · roll · racket · bear · wax

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. roll — a list
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. spring — a coil
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. march — the month
  7. wax — to grow
  8. spring — the season
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. bear — the animal
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bear — the animal
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. spring — of water
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. roll — a cake
  18. march — the month
  19. march — music
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. bear — to put up with

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