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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.

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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 · bowl · rest · toast · swing · wax · can · charge

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. swing — in golf
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. rest — what's left
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. swing — to play on
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. can — a tin
  12. rest — a break
  13. can — to be able to
  14. toast — bread
  15. can — a tin
  16. wax — to grow
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — a price
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. swing — music
  23. charge — electricity
  24. rest — what's left

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