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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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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: net · lean · staff · ruler · bore · tube · hand · ball

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. lean — to bend
  4. ball — a dance
  5. staff — a stick
  6. hand — in cards
  7. ball — a great time
  8. tube — the underground
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — after costs
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. bore — to drill
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. staff — employees
  18. bore — to tire
  19. net — for catching
  20. lean — thin
  21. hand — help
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. staff — employees
  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