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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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Word bank
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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: net · drill · pass · suit · rash · ruler · mine · squash

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. drill — a practice
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. suit — in cards
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. drill — army training
  9. squash — to crush
  10. net — for catching
  11. suit — clothes
  12. net — in sport
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. net — after costs
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. drill — the tool
  19. mine — for digging
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rash — a series
  22. pass — a permit
  23. rash — hasty
  24. squash — the sport

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