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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. key — in music
  4. row — a line
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mug — to rob
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mug — a face
  13. row — to paddle
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — a tool
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mug — a cup
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. key — for a lock
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. key — the most important part
  24. trunk — of a tree

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