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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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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: mate · mouse · wax · bulb · rush · rule · present · race

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. rule — a law
  3. race — the arms race
  4. bulb — for light
  5. race — a contest
  6. race — humankind
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rule — government
  13. bulb — for light
  14. present — the time now
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mate — a friend
  18. rush — hurry
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. present — there
  21. mate — to breed
  22. wax — to grow
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. present — a gift

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