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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: ruler · net · deal · pass · bear · roll · mate · ground

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. mate — a partner
  6. net — for catching
  7. bear — the animal
  8. ground — a position
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ground — the earth
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. ground — crushed
  16. net — in sport
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. mate — a friend
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. roll — a cake
  21. mate — to breed
  22. bear — the animal
  23. net — after costs
  24. roll — a list

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