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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. drill — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. drill — a practice
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. staff — employees
  9. rush — hurry
  10. date — the fruit
  11. drill — army training
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. staff — a stick
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lie — to recline
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. saw — the tool

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