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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 120 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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bound — obliged
  3. mate — a friend
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mate — a partner
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bound — tied together
  12. mug — a cup
  13. charge — in control
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. charge — a price
  16. mate — to breed
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rush — hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bound — certain
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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