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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. kid — to tease
  4. row — to paddle
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. sharp — clever
  8. row — a line
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a committee
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. game — wild animals
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. kid — child
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. game — a match
  24. fan — to cool the air

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