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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 116 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: ruler · nail · safe · ball · board · wake · season · tube

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. tube — a container
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a dance
  10. board — to get on
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wake — a trail
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. tube — the underground
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. season — in sport
  20. season — of the year
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. board — a committee
  24. tube — in a tire

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