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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: lie · rest · wax · ruler · tube · stock · root · stand

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stock — shares
  3. tube — the underground
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. rest — what's left
  7. stand — to bear
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. wax — to grow
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. root — of a word
  14. rest — what's left
  15. root — of a plant
  16. tube — a container
  17. root — the cause
  18. rest — a break
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. stock — goods
  23. lie — to recline
  24. stand — on your feet

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