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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
468
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 · spell · toast · lie · roll · mouse · bore · file

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. roll — a cake
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. toast — bread
  10. bore — to drill
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. roll — a list
  15. file — a document
  16. spell — magic
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. file — a line of people
  20. bore — to tire
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. spell — a short time
  23. spell — letters
  24. ruler — a monarch

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