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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. foot — a measure
  6. club — a group
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. ground — crushed
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. club — for golf
  17. rash — hasty
  18. ground — a position
  19. ground — the earth
  20. club — for dancing
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. rash — a series
  24. bulb — of a plant

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