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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: firm · ruler · bore · jam · wax · suit · game · mug

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. firm — decided
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. suit — to fit
  5. game — wild animals
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. firm — a company
  11. mug — to rob
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. firm — steady
  15. mug — a cup
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bore — to drill
  18. game — a match
  19. suit — clothes
  20. wax — to grow
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. mug — a face
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. suit — in cards

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