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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.

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: stand · lie · kick · saw · current · tube · ruler · bore

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. current — electric
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bore — to drill
  6. saw — the tool
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. tube — the underground
  9. kick — in football
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. current — of water
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bore — to tire
  20. current — happening now
  21. lie — to recline
  22. stand — to bear
  23. tube — a container
  24. ruler — for measuring

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