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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. staff — employees
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mug — a cup
  7. staff — employees
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. staff — a stick
  10. ball — a great time
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. mug — to rob
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. branch — a division
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ball — a dance
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. ground — crushed
  22. ground — a position
  23. mug — a face
  24. ground — the earth

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