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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bound — obliged
  3. drill — the tool
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. charge — electricity
  6. ground — a position
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bound — certain
  9. cue — for pool
  10. scale — size or range
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ground — crushed
  13. drill — a practice
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. charge — a price
  16. drill — army training
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bound — tied together
  21. cue — a hint
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. charge — in control

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