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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. cap — a lid
  5. rash — a series
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mate — to breed
  8. mate — a partner
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. fine — high quality
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. mate — a friend
  14. cap — of ice
  15. cap — a hat
  16. rash — hasty
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. date — the fruit
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. fine — all right
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. toast — bread
  24. nail — for a hammer

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