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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: ground · fine · rock · object · board · ruler · content · leaves

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  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. ground — the earth
  2. board — to get on
  3. object — a thing
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. content — happy
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — all right
  8. content — the amount
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — music
  11. ground — crushed
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. rock — a stone
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. ground — a position
  16. board — a committee
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. object — an aim
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. object — to protest
  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