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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: stem · squash · present · key · ruler · drill · roll · mug

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. squash — to crush
  3. stem — to come from
  4. drill — the tool
  5. roll — a cake
  6. key — for a lock
  7. roll — a list
  8. present — the time now
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a face
  12. key — in music
  13. drill — army training
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. drill — a practice
  17. mug — a cup
  18. present — there
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. squash — the sport
  21. key — the most important part
  22. present — a gift
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. stem — of a plant

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