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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. charge — in control
  3. date — the fruit
  4. charge — a price
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. spell — letters
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. bound — obliged
  10. spell — a short time
  11. row — to paddle
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. press — to push
  14. press — newspapers
  15. row — a line
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stand — to bear
  21. charge — electricity
  22. spell — magic
  23. press — a publisher
  24. date — on the calendar

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