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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: roll · nail · leaves · ruler · board · mine · wax · charge

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. roll — a list
  4. charge — in control
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mine — for digging
  13. board — to get on
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. charge — electricity
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. roll — a cake
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. charge — a price
  23. board — a committee
  24. ruler — for measuring

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