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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — in music
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. band — a music group
  5. key — the most important part
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. season — of the year
  8. key — for a lock
  9. kick — in football
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. band — a ring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. season — in sport

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