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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. track — to keep track
  5. rock — music
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. lean — to bend
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. hand — in cards
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. track — a song
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. lean — thin
  17. sharp — clever
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — to drill
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. track — a path
  22. hand — help
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. rock — a stone

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