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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: leaves · foot · wound · bore · plane · ruler · net · mark

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bore — to drill
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bore — to tire
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. net — for catching
  13. foot — a measure
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. net — in sport
  17. plane — a tool
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. net — after costs
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wound — an injury
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. mark — to pay attention

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