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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: mine · ruler · bay · wake · mate · leaves · nail · saw

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mate — to breed
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mate — a partner
  12. wake — a trail
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. mine — for digging
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — for a hammer

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