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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. bulb — for light
  9. snap — to click
  10. stock — shares
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. tear — from crying
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — a committee
  19. stock — goods
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. tear — from crying
  22. tear — to rip
  23. board — to get on
  24. ruler — a monarch

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