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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. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — hurry
  4. tube — the underground
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. tube — a container
  7. dip — to sink
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. lean — to bend
  16. lean — thin
  17. pass — a permit
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. ruler — for measuring

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