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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. wake — a trail
  4. club — for dancing
  5. key — in music
  6. game — wild animals
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. current — of water
  13. key — the most important part
  14. hand — in cards
  15. bore — to drill
  16. game — a match
  17. current — electric
  18. club — a group
  19. club — for golf
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. current — happening now
  22. hand — help
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bore — to tire

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