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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: bore · mug · ruler · board · capital · track · pass · rock

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bore — to tire
  4. track — a song
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bore — to drill
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. capital — money
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. track — to keep track
  12. mug — to rob
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. rock — music
  15. track — a path
  16. pass — a permit
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. board — a committee
  19. rock — a stone
  20. capital — a city
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mug — a face
  23. board — to get on
  24. bore — gave birth

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