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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  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. ground — a position
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. lie — to recline
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. spell — letters
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rush — hurry
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. spell — a short time
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ground — crushed
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. ground — the earth
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. foot — a measure
  22. toast — bread
  23. spell — magic
  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