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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: roll · board · safe · mark · spring · rush · ruler · saw

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rush — hurry
  5. spring — a coil
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. spring — the season
  10. saw — the tool
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. roll — a list
  17. saw — the tool
  18. board — to get on
  19. roll — a cake
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. spring — of water
  22. board — a committee
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. ruler — for measuring

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