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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: field · bound · rush · ruler · face · bulb · pit · mark

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. face — to confront
  3. pit — a hole
  4. face — part of the head
  5. face — to point toward
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. field — for sport
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bound — obliged
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pit — in a race
  13. bound — tied together
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. field — farmland
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bound — certain
  22. bulb — for light
  23. rush — hurry
  24. field — a subject

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