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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. object — a thing
  3. charge — in control
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. object — to protest
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mine — for digging
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. game — wild animals
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. charge — a price
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. mate — a partner
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. charge — electricity
  18. game — a match
  19. mate — to breed
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. object — an aim
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. racket — a loud noise

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