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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: can · leaves · roll · rash · degree · field · ruler · saw

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  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. can — a tin
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. field — farmland
  7. roll — a list
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. degree — an amount
  11. field — a subject
  12. degree — from a university
  13. can — a tin
  14. roll — a cake
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. field — for sport
  18. rash — a series
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. degree — temperature
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rash — hasty
  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