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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 120 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: ruler · cue · wind · can · rash · mug · bore · net

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mug — to rob
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cue — a hint
  5. mug — a cup
  6. wind — moving air
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bore — to tire
  10. can — a tin
  11. net — in sport
  12. cue — for pool
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. net — for catching
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rash — a series
  18. net — after costs
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. wind — moving air
  23. can — a tin
  24. mug — a face

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