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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 120 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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. rock — a stone
  4. last — to go on
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. last — finally
  7. rock — music
  8. march — the month
  9. mine — for digging
  10. march — the month
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — the fish
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. march — music
  23. last — final
  24. cabinet — ministers

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