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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — a break
  5. last — finally
  6. last — to go on
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. staff — employees
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. sharp — clever
  14. can — a tin
  15. staff — employees
  16. last — final
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. staff — a stick
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rest — what's left

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