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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: capital · bore · coach · fine · ball · hide · rock · ruler

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. Beijing is the ________________ of China.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bore — to tire
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. fine — high quality
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. rock — music
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bore — to drill
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. fine — all right
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. rock — a stone
  23. capital — money
  24. capital — a city

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