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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bulb — for light
  3. file — a line of people
  4. hand — help
  5. saw — the tool
  6. current — electric
  7. bound — obliged
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. toast — bread
  10. current — happening now
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. saw — the tool
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. current — of water
  15. hand — in cards
  16. file — a document
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bulb — for light
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. file — a tool
  22. bound — certain
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. hand — part of the body

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