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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitcher · press · field · ruler · bulb · mouse · rock · hand

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. field — for sport
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. field — a subject
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. press — a publisher
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. press — to push
  15. press — newspapers
  16. rock — a stone
  17. hand — help
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. hand — in cards
  23. field — farmland
  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