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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 116 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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rock — music
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. season — of the year
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. track — a song
  12. season — in sport
  13. lean — to bend
  14. track — to keep track
  15. tube — a container
  16. tube — the underground
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. track — a path
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. lean — thin
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. tube — in a tire

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