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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. sharp — clever
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — the tool
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. can — a tin
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cue — a signal
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. cue — a hint
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. snap — to click
  21. can — a tin
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  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