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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. press — newspapers
  3. wound — an injury
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. press — to push
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. current — electric
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. current — of water
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — the fish
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. fork — in a road
  18. current — happening now
  19. bass — low music
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. press — a publisher
  23. saw — the tool
  24. wound — an injury

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