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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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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: rest · deal · ground · bore · nail · ruler · bear · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bear — the animal
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ground — a position
  5. bore — to drill
  6. ground — crushed
  7. rock — music
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ground — the earth
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rest — what's left
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — to handle
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. rest — a break
  22. bear — the animal
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. rest — what's left

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