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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
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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: object · firm · ruler · season · date · track · mouse · bore

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bore — to tire
  3. object — to protest
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. firm — steady
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. track — a path
  11. firm — a company
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. season — in sport
  14. track — a song
  15. object — an aim
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bore — to drill
  18. firm — decided
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. date — the fruit
  23. object — a thing
  24. season — of the year

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