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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. pass — a permit
  5. drill — the tool
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — happening now
  8. band — a music group
  9. mark — a trace
  10. band — a ring
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. current — electric
  13. bear — the animal
  14. drill — a practice
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. current — of water
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bear — the animal
  21. drill — army training
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. ruler — a monarch

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