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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. net — in sport
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. sharp — clever
  7. net — for catching
  8. band — a ring
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. bore — to tire
  12. rock — a stone
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. net — after costs
  15. stem — to come from
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. toast — bread
  19. rock — music
  20. bore — to drill
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. band — a music group
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. stem — a stem cell

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