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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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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. sharp — clever
  4. mark — a trace
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. plane — a tool
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. fan — a supporter

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