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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. bass — low music
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. object — to protest
  5. drill — army training
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. track — a song
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. drill — the tool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bass — the fish
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. saw — the tool
  15. object — an aim
  16. drill — a practice
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. object — a thing
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. track — to keep track

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