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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: mine · track · rock · plane · coach · straw · ruler · mouse

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — to keep track
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. track — a song
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. rock — a stone
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. track — a path
  19. mine — for digging
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. plane — a tool
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. ruler — a monarch

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