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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: track · bowl · wake · rest · bear · pop · ruler · leaves

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wake — a trail
  5. track — a path
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. track — to keep track
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. rest — a break
  11. pop — to visit
  12. rest — what's left
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. track — a song
  16. pop — soda
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. rest — what's left
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pop — music
  24. leaves — to go away

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