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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bore · row · rule · stand · key · trunk · jam · deal

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a line
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. bore — to drill
  6. key — the most important part
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. rule — a law
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. key — in music
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bore — to tire
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rule — government
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. deal — to handle
  24. stand — on your feet

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