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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 120 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
468
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: net · can · bore · mouse · ruler · stem · saw · arm

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — a tin
  3. bore — to tire
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. can — to be able to
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. net — in sport
  14. stem — to come from
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. bore — to drill
  18. saw — the tool
  19. net — for catching
  20. can — a tin
  21. net — after costs
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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