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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. branch — a division
  5. bulb — for light
  6. charge — in control
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. charge — a price
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rush — hurry
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. charge — electricity
  21. game — a match
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. game — wild animals
  24. branch — of a bank

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