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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. bound — obliged
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. press — to push
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bound — tied together
  9. can — a tin
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. shower — rain
  14. press — newspapers
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. shower — to wash
  18. hand — in cards
  19. hand — help
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bound — certain
  22. wake — a trail
  23. can — to be able to
  24. press — a publisher

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