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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bank — for money
  3. content — happy
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bank — for money
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pitch — completely
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. fine — all right
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. land — ground
  12. content — the amount
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. bank — of a river
  19. land — to come down
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. land — a country
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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