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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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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: key · pass · pound · calf · mouse · drill · rash · ruler

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. pound — a weight
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. drill — army training
  6. rash — hasty
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. pass — a permit
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. drill — the tool
  14. drill — a practice
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. key — the most important part
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rash — a series
  19. key — for a lock
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. key — in music
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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