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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 120 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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. drill — army training
  7. court — of a king
  8. race — humankind
  9. drill — the tool
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. press — newspapers
  12. court — for sport
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. object — an aim
  16. press — a publisher
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. object — to protest
  19. drill — a practice
  20. court — of law
  21. press — to push
  22. object — a thing
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. race — the arms race

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