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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. spell — magic
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rock — a stone
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. rock — music

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