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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
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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: fall · rock · bore · ruler · mug · lash · wax · pop

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. fall — to drop
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bore — to drill
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pop — music
  7. wax — to grow
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bore — to tire
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mug — a face
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. mug — to rob
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — music
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fall — to drop
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — to visit

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