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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: bowl · toast · wax · kick · foot · staff · ruler · ball

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. staff — employees
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. kick — in football
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. foot — a measure
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. toast — bread
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. staff — a stick
  18. staff — employees
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. ball — a dance
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ruler — a monarch

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