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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: craft · stock · mouse · spring · ruler · ground · nail · mine

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. craft — a skill
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. spring — a coil
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — crushed
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. spring — the season
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mine — for digging
  15. spring — of water
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. ground — the earth
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stock — shares
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. stock — goods
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. craft — boats

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