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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. track — a path
  3. board — to get on
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. land — a country
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. track — to keep track
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. land — to come down
  16. track — a song
  17. land — ground
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. bear — the animal
  20. deal — to handle
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. board — a committee

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