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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  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. bowl — to roll
  3. spell — letters
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fall — to drop
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. pop — to visit
  13. spell — a short time
  14. fall — to drop
  15. pop — music
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fall — the season
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. spell — magic
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. pop — soda
  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