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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — a position
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. board — a committee
  6. ground — crushed
  7. board — to get on
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rule — government
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bore — to drill
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bore — to tire
  17. ball — a dance
  18. sharp — clever
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. rule — a law
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bulb — for light

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