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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 120 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: ground · hand · mark · bulb · ruler · stand · foot · mug

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. ground — the earth
  3. mug — a cup
  4. ground — a position
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. mug — a face
  8. stand — to bear
  9. mark — a trace
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. bulb — for light
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mug — to rob
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bulb — for light
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mark — a grade
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. hand — help
  24. ground — crushed

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