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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. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. plane — a tool
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — tied together
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. degree — an amount
  11. spell — magic
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. degree — from a university
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — letters
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. mark — a grade
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mark — a trace
  24. bound — certain

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