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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 116 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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bore — to drill
  4. game — wild animals
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. game — a match
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. tube — the underground
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. stock — shares
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bore — to tire
  21. suit — to fit
  22. tube — a container
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. suit — clothes

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