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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. cap — a lid
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. cap — of ice
  5. rest — a break
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cap — a hat
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. tube — a container
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. ground — crushed
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — what's left
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. tube — the underground
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. ground — a position
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. nail — for a hammer

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