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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
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: track · board · ruler · saw · wound · snap · bat · current

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. snap — to click
  4. bat — the animal
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. wound — an injury
  7. track — a song
  8. saw — the tool
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. current — of water
  11. track — a path
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. current — happening now
  16. board — a committee
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. track — to keep track
  20. board — to get on
  21. wound — an injury
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. current — electric
  24. saw — the tool

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