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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. drill — army training
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. key — for a lock
  7. saw — the tool
  8. row — to paddle
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. drill — the tool
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. toast — bread
  15. drill — a practice
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. key — the most important part
  18. row — a line
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. saw — the tool
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. key — in music
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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