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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: spring · track · chip · board · date · bore · lie · ruler

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. board — a committee
  3. spring — of water
  4. spring — the season
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a song
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lie — to recline
  9. board — to get on
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. track — a path
  13. chip — to eat
  14. spring — a coil
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bore — to drill
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bore — to tire
  24. date — the fruit

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