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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. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. field — farmland
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. saw — the tool
  5. toast — bread
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. file — a document
  9. field — for sport
  10. deal — to handle
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. saw — the tool
  13. field — a subject
  14. pop — to visit
  15. file — a line of people
  16. pop — soda
  17. file — a tool
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. pop — music
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bowl — a dish

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