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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: march · rush · lash · mine · ground · ruler · mate · mouse

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mate — to breed
  5. ground — a position
  6. ground — the earth
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. march — music
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. mate — a partner
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mine — for digging
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. ground — crushed
  18. rush — hurry
  19. march — the month
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. march — the month
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mouse — the animal

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