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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. object — to protest
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ball — a dance
  5. object — an aim
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — to drill
  9. wind — moving air
  10. wind — moving air
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. stock — goods
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stock — shares
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. object — a thing
  21. ball — a great time
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. leaves — to go away

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