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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
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 · mouse · board · squash · ruler · drill · present · tube

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. tube — the underground
  4. net — for catching
  5. board — to get on
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. net — after costs
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — army training
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. squash — to crush
  13. present — the time now
  14. present — there
  15. board — a committee
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. tube — a container
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. drill — a practice
  22. present — a gift
  23. squash — the sport
  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