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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 120 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: ruler · wake · fan · bulb · staff · present · wind · leaves

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. present — there
  5. staff — employees
  6. wind — moving air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wind — to turn a key
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. present — the time now
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. staff — a stick
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. bulb — for light
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. present — a gift
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wind — moving air
  24. staff — employees

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