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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: mark · racket · pass · ruler · nail · shower · track · dip

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — a grade
  3. track — to keep track
  4. shower — rain
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. track — a song
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. shower — to wash
  21. track — a path
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. dip — to sink

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