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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: saw · ruler · stick · board · track · present · toast · jam

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. track — a path
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. saw — the tool
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. saw — the tool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. board — a committee
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. present — the time now
  13. track — a song
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. present — there
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. board — to get on
  21. present — a gift
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. toast — bread
  24. ruler — for measuring

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