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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: last · ruler · foot · game · mine · trunk · fork · bore

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. last — finally
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bore — to tire
  7. bore — to drill
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. game — wild animals
  15. game — a match
  16. last — final
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. foot — a measure
  19. last — to go on
  20. fork — in a road
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. mine — for digging

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