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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. land — a country
  3. bear — the animal
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. clip — for paper
  7. tube — the underground
  8. land — ground
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. land — to come down
  11. scale — in music
  12. bear — the animal
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. scale — size or range
  19. tube — a container
  20. clip — a video
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. clip — to cut
  24. ruler — a monarch

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