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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 116 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 ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. pop — soda
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rest — what's left
  9. court — of a king
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. court — of law
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. land — ground
  14. pop — to visit
  15. rest — what's left
  16. pop — music
  17. land — a country
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. court — for sport
  20. rash — a series
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rest — a break
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. land — to come down

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