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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. file — a tool
  6. file — a line of people
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. scale — size or range
  10. file — a document
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. suit — to fit
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. suit — in cards
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. scale — in music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. suit — clothes
  24. scale — for weighing

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