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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. track — a path
  4. track — a song
  5. can — a tin
  6. march — the month
  7. can — a tin
  8. march — the month
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. deal — to handle
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. game — wild animals
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. cap — a lid
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. cap — a hat
  19. cap — of ice
  20. can — to be able to
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. march — music
  23. rush — hurry
  24. game — a match

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