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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 116 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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. wake — a trail
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fine — all right
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mate — a partner
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. mate — to breed
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. band — a ring
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mate — a friend
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — hurry
  20. suit — to fit
  21. pit — in a race
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pit — a hole
  24. band — a rubber band

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