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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: roll · ball · mug · track · ruler · toast · mine · mark

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ball — a dance
  3. roll — a list
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. roll — a cake
  6. ball — a great time
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mine — for digging
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. track — a song
  14. track — to keep track
  15. mug — a cup
  16. toast — bread
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mark — a trace
  21. track — a path
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mine — an explosive

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