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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bore — to drill
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. land — ground
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. land — to come down
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. bore — to tire
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. land — a country
  19. branch — a division
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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