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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: pitcher · cue · ruler · degree · mate · present · row · mark

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mate — a friend
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. degree — an amount
  6. mark — a trace
  7. row — to paddle
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. degree — from a university
  10. present — a gift
  11. mate — a partner
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mate — to breed
  15. cue — for pool
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. cue — a signal
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. present — the time now
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. degree — temperature
  22. present — there
  23. row — a line
  24. cue — a hint

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