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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bore — to drill
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. staff — a stick
  8. club — for dancing
  9. roll — a list
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. club — for golf
  13. season — of the year
  14. stock — shares
  15. club — a group
  16. staff — employees
  17. dip — to sink
  18. roll — a cake
  19. staff — employees
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. season — in sport
  23. bore — to tire
  24. dip — to dunk

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