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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: deal · wax · hand · patient · ruler · current · present · fan

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. present — a gift
  4. present — the time now
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. present — there
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. wax — to grow
  12. hand — help
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. hand — in cards
  19. current — electric
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. deal — to handle
  24. wax — for sculpting

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