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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: hand · mark · roll · ruler · bore · bass · shower · mug

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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. bore — gave birth
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bore — to tire
  6. hand — in cards
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. bass — low music
  9. mark — a grade
  10. roll — a cake
  11. shower — rain
  12. hand — help
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bass — the fish
  16. shower — to wash
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bore — to drill
  21. mug — a face
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. roll — a list
  24. mug — to rob

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