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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — for a lock
  3. file — a tool
  4. swing — music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. swing — in golf
  10. file — a line of people
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rash — a series
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. rash — hasty
  18. file — a document
  19. stand — to bear
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. key — in music
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. swing — to play on

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