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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: wax · pound · saw · bay · pitcher · ruler · cue · nail

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — a hint
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. cue — a signal
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. pound — a weight
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cue — for pool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bay — a horse colour

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