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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 116 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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bore — to tire
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ground — crushed
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. court — of a king
  8. bark — to shout
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. spring — of water
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bore — to drill
  14. court — for sport
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. court — of law
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. spring — the season
  22. ground — a position
  23. spring — a coil
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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