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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: fall · deal · ruler · wave · hand · calf · tube · wax

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wax — to grow
  4. fall — the season
  5. deal — to handle
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. tube — a container
  9. hand — in cards
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. tube — the underground
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. hand — help
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fall — to drop
  24. ruler — for measuring

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