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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rest — what's left
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hand — help
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rest — what's left
  7. sharp — clever
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. wound — an injury
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hand — in cards
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. rest — a break
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. wound — an injury
  24. leaves — of a tree

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