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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: board · nail · date · lie · bore · key · rash · ruler

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. board — a committee
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. key — in music
  9. rash — hasty
  10. date — the fruit
  11. key — the most important part
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. key — for a lock
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bore — to tire
  19. rash — a series
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. board — to get on

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