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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: mark · face · hide · ruler · leaves · spring · bore · swing

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. swing — music
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. face — to point toward
  8. mark — a trace
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. spring — a coil
  14. spring — the season
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. spring — of water
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. face — part of the head
  19. swing — in golf
  20. mark — a grade
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. swing — to play on
  23. face — to confront
  24. bore — to drill

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