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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. 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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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. bound — tied together
  4. drill — the tool
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — army training
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. file — a line of people
  9. chip — to eat
  10. bound — obliged
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. lean — thin
  14. lean — to bend
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. bound — certain
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. file — a document
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. file — a tool
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. fork — in a road
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. chip — for betting

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