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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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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 · object · lash · root · snap · wake · bore · shower

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. object — an aim
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. shower — rain
  7. bore — to drill
  8. root — of a word
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. root — of a plant
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. object — a thing
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. object — to protest
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. wake — a trail
  18. shower — to wash
  19. bore — to tire
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. root — the cause
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. snap — to click

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