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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. kid — child
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. current — of water
  7. pass — a permit
  8. current — electric
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. stem — to come from
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. current — happening now
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. kid — to tease
  15. vault — a safe
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. game — a match
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. game — wild animals
  24. game — a kind of play

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