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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. object — a thing
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. saw — the tool
  6. staff — a stick
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bark — to shout
  9. bore — to tire
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. track — a song
  13. saw — the tool
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. staff — employees
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. object — an aim
  22. bore — to drill
  23. staff — employees
  24. object — to protest

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