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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. staff — employees
  4. game — a match
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. shower — to wash
  7. shower — rain
  8. board — a committee
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. staff — employees
  16. game — wild animals
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. staff — a stick
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. board — to get on

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