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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: pass · spring · fine · sharp · saw · net · drill · ruler

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. net — in sport
  5. net — after costs
  6. sharp — clever
  7. spring — of water
  8. fine — all right
  9. saw — the tool
  10. drill — army training
  11. spring — a coil
  12. fine — high quality
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. drill — a practice
  15. spring — the season
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. net — for catching
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. drill — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. saw — the tool
  24. pass — a permit

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