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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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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: ruler · ball · mouse · lean · toast · rest · pit · mate

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mate — to breed
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lean — to bend
  5. ball — a dance
  6. rest — a break
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. rest — what's left
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. toast — bread
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. pit — a hole
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. lean — thin
  20. pit — in a race
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mate — a partner
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mate — a friend

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