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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. prune — to trim
  3. can — a tin
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. chip — for betting
  6. suit — clothes
  7. suit — in cards
  8. file — a document
  9. can — a tin
  10. spring — of water
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. can — to be able to
  14. file — a tool
  15. spring — the season
  16. ball — a dance
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. prune — to trim
  19. file — a line of people
  20. spring — a coil
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — to eat
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. suit — to fit

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