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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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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: mine · lash · ruler · deal · bear · trunk · row · date

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. row — a line
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bear — the animal
  7. row — to paddle
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. deal — to handle
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — the fruit
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mine — for digging
  24. bear — to put up with

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