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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. present — the time now
  3. ground — crushed
  4. rush — hurry
  5. court — of a king
  6. board — a committee
  7. court — of law
  8. face — to point toward
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. board — to get on
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. court — for sport
  16. present — there
  17. face — to confront
  18. ground — the earth
  19. face — part of the head
  20. ground — a position
  21. present — a gift
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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