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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. wound — an injury
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. chair — a leader
  11. wound — an injury
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. bear — the animal
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bear — the animal
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. nail — for a hammer

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