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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. saw — the tool
  5. shower — to wash
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. saw — the tool
  8. hand — help
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. hand — in cards
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. fine — all right
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. fine — high quality
  17. shower — rain
  18. saw — past of 'see'

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