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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. key — the most important part
  7. board — a committee
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. tube — the underground
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. mark — a trace
  14. net — for catching
  15. key — for a lock
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. craft — a skill
  18. tube — a container
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. net — in sport
  21. craft — boats
  22. board — to get on
  23. net — after costs
  24. key — in music

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