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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. net — in sport
  3. sharp — clever
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. object — an aim
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. march — music
  8. bulb — for light
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. object — a thing
  13. net — after costs
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. march — the month
  16. fork — in a road
  17. net — for catching
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. march — the month
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. object — to protest
  22. pass — a permit
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pass — to succeed

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