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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. last — finally
  3. file — a tool
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. last — final
  6. land — a country
  7. file — a document
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — a trace
  10. last — to go on
  11. mug — to rob
  12. land — to come down
  13. stock — goods
  14. mug — a cup
  15. land — ground
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. file — a line of people
  18. bore — to tire
  19. stock — shares
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. bore — to drill
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mug — a face
  24. stock — a soup base

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