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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 · date · sharp · track · row · hide · fine · ruler

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. row — a line
  4. track — a song
  5. track — a path
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. fine — high quality
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. sharp — clever
  11. date — the fruit
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. fine — all right
  14. track — to keep track
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. bore — to drill
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. bore — to tire

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