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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. row — to paddle
  4. sharp — clever
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bore — to tire
  7. row — a line
  8. content — happy
  9. stand — to bear
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. rash — a series
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. rash — hasty
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. bore — to drill
  24. content — the amount

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