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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
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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: spring · game · prune · drill · ruler · rock · mark · hide

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. prune — to trim
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. game — a match
  6. spring — of water
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. mark — a trace
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. mark — a grade
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. drill — army training
  14. drill — a practice
  15. rock — music
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. game — wild animals
  18. drill — the tool
  19. spring — the season
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. spring — a coil
  22. prune — to trim
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. game — a kind of play

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