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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. current — happening now
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. current — electric
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. bore — to tire
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. current — of water
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bore — to drill
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. date — the fruit

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