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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: fan · bulb · hand · ruler · staff · lash · wax · race

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. staff — a stick
  6. race — humankind
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. staff — employees
  14. hand — in cards
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. hand — help
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. race — a contest
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. race — the arms race

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