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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 want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. tube — a container
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. bank — for money
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rash — a series
  10. land — to come down
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rash — hasty
  13. pit — a hole
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. land — ground
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bank — for money
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pit — in a race
  20. land — a country
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. saw — the tool
  24. tube — the underground

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