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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. cap — a hat
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. cap — of ice
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. cap — a lid
  9. bore — to drill
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. game — a match
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. band — a ring
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bore — to tire
  20. band — a music group
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. calf — a young 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