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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: saw · roll · ruler · mug · coach · field · bore · stock

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. stock — goods
  4. field — a subject
  5. bore — to tire
  6. roll — a cake
  7. bore — to drill
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. field — for sport
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. saw — the tool
  13. stock — shares
  14. roll — a list
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — a face
  19. saw — the tool
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. field — farmland

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