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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.

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: trunk · patient · wax · squash · ruler · dip · charge · bore

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. charge — a price
  3. squash — the sport
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. charge — in control
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. charge — electricity
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. wax — to grow
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bore — to drill
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. squash — to crush
  24. squash — the vegetable

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