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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. fall — to drop
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. prune — to trim
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. fall — to drop
  9. fall — the season
  10. prune — to trim
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. lie — to recline
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. lean — thin
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bore — to tire
  21. lean — to bend
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bore — to drill
  24. lean — to rest against

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