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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — for a lock
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. dip — to sink
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. pit — in a race
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. pit — a hole
  11. key — in music
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. present — a gift
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. present — there
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. key — the most important part
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. present — the time now

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