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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. stem — to come from
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bore — to drill
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. roll — a list
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. tube — the underground
  21. roll — a cake
  22. bore — to tire
  23. tube — a container
  24. jam — a tight spot

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