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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. hand — help
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. key — for a lock
  6. field — for sport
  7. key — the most important part
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. hand — in cards
  11. field — farmland
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. staff — employees
  14. field — a subject
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. suit — to fit
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. suit — clothes
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. key — in music
  24. wave — with your hand

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