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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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. band — a music group
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spell — magic
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bulb — for light
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bulb — for light
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. spell — letters
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. band — a ring
  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