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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.

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: roll · safe · ruler · bore · game · drill · key · march

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. key — the most important part
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. key — for a lock
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. drill — army training
  10. roll — a cake
  11. march — the month
  12. game — a match
  13. game — wild animals
  14. drill — the tool
  15. key — in music
  16. drill — a practice
  17. bore — to drill
  18. march — the month
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. bore — to tire
  21. roll — a list
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. march — music
  24. safe — out of danger

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