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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. track — a song
  4. board — to get on
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. shower — rain
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. track — a path
  18. track — to keep track
  19. shower — to wash
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. board — a committee
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. leaves — of a tree

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