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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: pit · ruler · lean · straw · pass · bear · ball · roll

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. bear — the animal
  4. roll — a list
  5. pass — a permit
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. lean — thin
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bear — the animal
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pit — in a race
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. ball — a great time
  20. pit — a hole
  21. roll — a cake
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lean — to bend
  24. straw — dry grass

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