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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. object — to protest
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. object — a thing
  8. bass — the fish
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. object — an aim
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bass — low music
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bore — to tire
  24. ruler — for measuring

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