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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: stick · cue · arm · can · foot · ruler · land · wax

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. land — a country
  3. wax — to grow
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. cue — a signal
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. land — ground
  10. cue — a hint
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. foot — a measure
  14. land — to come down
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. can — a tin
  17. cue — for pool
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. arm — a part of something

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