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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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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. tube — a container
  3. rest — a break
  4. root — the cause
  5. rest — what's left
  6. tube — the underground
  7. rest — what's left
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. root — of a word
  10. mark — a trace
  11. pit — a hole
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. pit — in a race
  21. branch — a division
  22. mark — a grade
  23. root — of a plant
  24. wound — an injury

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