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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: drill · stand · band · lie · ruler · racket · jam · row

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. row — a line
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. stand — to bear
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. drill — the tool
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. row — to paddle
  16. lie — to recline
  17. drill — army training
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. band — a ring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. band — a music group
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. drill — a practice

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