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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. game — a match
  6. board — a committee
  7. capital — money
  8. can — a tin
  9. board — to get on
  10. capital — a big letter
  11. pass — a permit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. suit — to fit
  15. can — to be able to
  16. game — wild animals
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. capital — a city
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bear — the animal

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