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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bore — to tire
  3. can — a tin
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. current — electric
  7. current — happening now
  8. land — ground
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. march — the month
  13. land — to come down
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. land — a country
  17. march — music
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. march — the month
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bore — to drill
  23. current — of water
  24. safe — out of danger

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