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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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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: snap · wind · cabinet · ruler · prune · wax · ground · rock

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ground — a position
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. ground — crushed
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rock — a stone
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. rock — music
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. wind — moving air
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wind — moving air
  20. ground — the earth
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. prune — to trim
  24. snap — to click

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