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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. bass — low music
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bore — to drill
  7. bore — to tire
  8. game — a match
  9. staff — employees
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. staff — employees
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. current — electric
  16. game — wild animals
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. pass — a permit
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. current — happening now
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. current — of water
  23. staff — a stick
  24. bass — the fish

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