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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 120 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 muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. can — a tin
  6. track — a song
  7. track — to keep track
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. object — to protest
  10. can — a tin
  11. board — to get on
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. game — wild animals
  14. suit — in cards
  15. suit — clothes
  16. board — a committee
  17. object — a thing
  18. can — to be able to
  19. object — an aim
  20. saw — the tool
  21. suit — to fit
  22. game — a match
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. saw — the tool

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