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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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Word bank
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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. That was a fun ________________.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. game — a match
  3. fork — in a road
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bound — obliged
  6. drill — army training
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. drill — the tool
  11. club — a group
  12. wind — moving air
  13. club — for dancing
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. club — for golf
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. game — wild animals
  20. bound — tied together
  21. wind — moving air
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. drill — a practice
  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