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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. lie — to recline
  4. face — to confront
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. staff — a stick
  10. face — to point toward
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. staff — employees
  15. bark — to shout
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. face — part of the head
  18. foot — a measure
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. staff — employees
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. coach — a trainer

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