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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  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. race — the arms race
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. can — a tin
  4. pop — to visit
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. race — a contest
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. race — humankind
  14. net — in sport
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. ground — crushed
  17. net — after costs
  18. net — for catching
  19. foot — a measure
  20. pop — soda
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ground — a position
  23. pop — music
  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