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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 assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. bore — to drill
  3. shower — rain
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. suit — to fit
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. suit — clothes
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. branch — a division
  12. bore — to tire
  13. shower — to wash
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. bass — the fish
  17. game — wild animals
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. fine — high quality
  21. bass — low music
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. game — a match
  24. suit — in cards

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