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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: squash · rush · sharp · lean · foot · ruler · pass · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. pass — a permit
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bore — to tire
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. lean — to bend
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — clever
  16. squash — to crush
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. foot — a measure
  19. lean — thin
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. squash — the sport
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. rush — hurry
  24. lean — to rest against

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