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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fall — the season
  4. row — a line
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. content — the amount
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. track — a path
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. row — to paddle
  11. key — the most important part
  12. fall — to drop
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. rush — hurry
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. key — for a lock
  18. fall — to drop
  19. game — wild animals
  20. key — in music
  21. game — a match
  22. track — a song
  23. track — to keep track
  24. content — happy

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