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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. present — the time now
  4. land — to come down
  5. land — a country
  6. craft — boats
  7. press — newspapers
  8. present — there
  9. drill — the tool
  10. press — to push
  11. press — a publisher
  12. drill — a practice
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. cue — a hint
  16. craft — a skill
  17. present — a gift
  18. land — ground
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. cue — for pool
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cue — a signal

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