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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. key — for a lock
  5. date — the fruit
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. drill — army training
  8. key — the most important part
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. drill — the tool
  11. last — finally
  12. foot — a measure
  13. key — in music
  14. drill — a practice
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. court — of a king
  17. court — of law
  18. court — for sport
  19. last — final
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. mine — for digging
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. last — to go on

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