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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 was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. shower — to wash
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. roll — a list
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. shower — rain
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. roll — a cake
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. craft — boats
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. craft — a skill

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