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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: ruler · bulb · mate · row · kid · game · safe · hide

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mate — to breed
  3. game — wild animals
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. game — a match
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mate — a partner
  12. kid — child
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. kid — to tease
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. bulb — for light
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. row — a line
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bulb — for light

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