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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. track — to keep track
  3. fall — to drop
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. ball — a dance
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. fall — the season
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. track — a path
  15. ball — a great time
  16. fall — to drop
  17. track — a song
  18. saw — the tool
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bark — to shout
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. mouse — the 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