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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. net — in sport
  3. net — after costs
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. suit — clothes
  7. net — for catching
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. suit — to fit
  10. dip — to sink
  11. march — the month
  12. march — music
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. march — the month
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. suit — in cards
  20. board — a committee
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. wake — a trail

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