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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.

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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: ruler · fork · band · prune · craft · wax · current · ball

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. current — happening now
  6. prune — to trim
  7. band — a ring
  8. craft — a skill
  9. ball — a great time
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. current — of water
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. band — a music group
  15. prune — to trim
  16. current — electric
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fork — in a road
  19. wax — to grow
  20. ball — a dance
  21. craft — boats
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. craft — a handicraft

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