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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. saw — the tool
  4. court — of law
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. bound — obliged
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. field — a subject
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. drill — army training
  14. saw — the tool
  15. can — a tin
  16. drill — a practice
  17. bound — certain
  18. court — of a king
  19. field — farmland
  20. bound — tied together
  21. court — for sport
  22. vault — a safe
  23. field — for sport
  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