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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: ruler · mine · rock · prune · current · lie · club · patient

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. current — of water
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rock — music
  11. current — electric
  12. club — a group
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. prune — to trim
  15. current — happening now
  16. prune — to trim
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. club — for dancing
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. club — for golf
  24. lie — an untruth

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