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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 120 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 · row · pass · mug · snap · fall · mouse · pitcher

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mug — a cup
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. snap — to click
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. row — to paddle
  13. mug — to rob
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mug — a face
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fall — to drop
  20. fall — the season
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fall — to drop
  24. row — a line

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