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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 116 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wound — an injury
  3. drill — a practice
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. drill — army training
  6. prune — to trim
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — clever
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. wound — an injury
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. content — the amount
  14. drill — the tool
  15. prune — to trim
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. content — happy

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