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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 116 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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. drill — a practice
  4. squash — to crush
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bound — obliged
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. band — a music group
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. drill — army training
  15. drill — the tool
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. vault — a safe
  18. bound — certain
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. band — a ring
  22. squash — the sport
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. bound — tied together

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