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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 · game · mate · mine · swing · deal · rock · leaves

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. game — wild animals
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mine — for digging
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. swing — in golf
  12. swing — to play on
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. swing — music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rock — music
  19. game — a match
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mate — a partner
  22. rock — a stone
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. ruler — for measuring

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