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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. mine — for digging
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. row — a line
  8. tube — the underground
  9. row — to paddle
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. staff — employees
  12. cue — a hint
  13. tube — a container
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. cue — for pool
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. track — to keep track
  20. cue — a signal
  21. staff — employees
  22. track — a path
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. staff — a stick

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