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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 · net · rush · wind · fan · bore · pound · stick

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. net — for catching
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bore — to drill
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. wind — moving air
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. wind — moving air
  16. net — in sport
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. pound — a weight
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. net — after costs
  24. bore — to tire

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