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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: rock · pitcher · ruler · key · season · hide · rush · kick

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. key — the most important part
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. season — in sport
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. key — in music
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. rush — hurry
  18. season — of the year
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rock — music

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