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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.

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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: ruler · bear · racket · bore · snap · pound · lash · deal

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bore — to tire
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bear — the animal
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. snap — to click
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. pound — a weight
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. pound — for dogs

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