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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 116 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 · ruler · scale · wave · rock · snap · charge · capital

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. charge — in control
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. charge — electricity
  8. charge — a price
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. snap — to click
  15. rock — a stone
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. scale — size or range
  18. capital — a city
  19. capital — money
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. rock — music

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