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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 120 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: mine · bear · rash · ruler · foot · racket · wound · plane

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rash — a series
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bear — the animal
  12. foot — a measure
  13. wound — an injury
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. mine — for digging
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. rash — hasty
  19. wound — an injury
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. bear — the animal
  24. racket — for tennis

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