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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: ruler · lie · wax · deal · jam · face · chip · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. chip — to eat
  5. object — a thing
  6. chip — for betting
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. object — to protest
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. face — to confront
  14. wax — to grow
  15. lie — to recline
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. face — part of the head
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. deal — to handle
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. face — to point toward
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. lie — an untruth

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