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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.

Make a worksheet

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: ruler · ball · date · mouse · mine · safe · land · wake

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ball — a dance
  11. wake — a trail
  12. land — a country
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mine — for digging
  18. ball — a great time
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. land — ground
  21. land — to come down
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. date — the fruit

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