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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cap — of ice
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. saw — the tool
  11. face — to point toward
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. face — to confront
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. club — for golf
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cap — a lid
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. club — a group
  20. cap — a hat
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. saw — the tool
  23. club — for dancing
  24. ruler — a monarch

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