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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. game — a match
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. tube — a container
  14. stock — shares
  15. stock — goods
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. net — in sport
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. net — after costs
  22. game — wild animals
  23. net — for catching
  24. calf — a young animal

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