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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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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: stock · mate · coach · ruler · drill · mark · jam · patient

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mate — to breed
  4. stock — goods
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. stock — shares
  8. drill — the tool
  9. mark — a grade
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. mate — a friend
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mark — a trace
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. drill — a practice
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. mate — a partner
  24. drill — army training

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