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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.

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: hand · wax · fan · degree · hide · rock · ruler · bore

  1. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. degree — an amount
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bore — to drill
  5. rock — a stone
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hand — in cards
  9. degree — temperature
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. hand — help
  15. degree — from a university
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. wax — to grow
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bore — to tire
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. rock — music

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