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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. root — the cause
  4. cue — a signal
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. root — of a plant
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. game — wild animals
  11. cue — a hint
  12. land — a country
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. game — a match
  17. bank — for money
  18. rush — hurry
  19. tube — the underground
  20. tube — a container
  21. land — ground
  22. root — of a word
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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