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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. wound — an injury
  4. firm — decided
  5. firm — steady
  6. rush — hurry
  7. ground — a position
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. can — a tin
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. can — to be able to
  15. row — to paddle
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — a measure
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. wound — an injury
  23. firm — a company
  24. row — a line

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