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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. band — a music group
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. band — a ring
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rush — hurry
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. suit — to fit
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. spell — magic
  12. spell — a short time
  13. kick — in football
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bulb — for light
  16. suit — in cards
  17. land — ground
  18. land — to come down
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. suit — clothes
  23. spell — letters
  24. land — a country

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