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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: ruler · pit · rush · wax · content · temple · staff · swing

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. staff — employees
  3. swing — music
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. content — the amount
  8. swing — to play on
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. content — happy
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. staff — a stick
  15. wax — to grow
  16. swing — in golf
  17. pit — a hole
  18. pit — in a race
  19. staff — employees
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. rush — hurry

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