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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 · mine · race · ruler · tear · pass · spring · season

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. tear — from crying
  4. race — the arms race
  5. season — of the year
  6. spring — a coil
  7. rock — a stone
  8. race — humankind
  9. spring — the season
  10. spring — of water
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. tear — from crying
  14. mine — for digging
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. season — in sport
  20. rock — music
  21. tear — to rip
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. race — a contest

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