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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: roll · ruler · leaves · mate · rest · tear · net · track

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. net — in sport
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mate — to breed
  6. track — a song
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rest — a break
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. track — a path
  12. rest — what's left
  13. mate — a friend
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. tear — to rip
  16. tear — from crying
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. net — after costs
  19. track — to keep track
  20. roll — a list
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. net — for catching
  23. roll — a cake
  24. tear — from crying

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