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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 King held a masked ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. rush — hurry
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. rule — a law
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. key — in music
  9. mark — a grade
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. key — the most important part
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. key — for a lock
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rule — government
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. mark — a trace

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