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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: pass · ruler · hand · bore · sharp · stock · file · court

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bore — to drill
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. file — a line of people
  6. court — for sport
  7. stock — goods
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. bore — to tire
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. stock — shares
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. hand — help
  16. pass — a permit
  17. court — of a king
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. file — a tool
  21. court — of law
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. file — a document

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