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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. can — a tin
  3. drill — army training
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. drill — the tool
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ball — a dance
  10. lie — to recline
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. ball — a great time
  13. drill — a practice
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bore — to drill
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bore — to tire
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. can — a tin

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