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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. current — of water
  5. current — electric
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — a break
  8. rush — hurry
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. degree — from a university
  11. root — the cause
  12. board — a committee
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. root — of a plant
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. current — happening now
  21. board — to get on
  22. degree — temperature
  23. root — of a word
  24. degree — an amount

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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