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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: rest · bound · ruler · season · mug · degree · saw · stock

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mug — to rob
  4. rest — what's left
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. season — of the year
  7. mug — a face
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bound — certain
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. degree — an amount
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bound — obliged
  15. season — in sport
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bound — tied together
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. stock — shares
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. degree — temperature
  22. stock — goods
  23. rest — a break
  24. degree — from a university

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