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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. scale — in music
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. squash — the sport
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rock — a stone
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — to get on
  11. rock — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. rush — hurry
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. scale — size or range
  19. mine — for digging
  20. board — a committee
  21. toast — bread
  22. squash — to crush
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. mine — an explosive

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