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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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. fall — the season
  4. roll — a list
  5. can — a tin
  6. stock — goods
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. dip — to sink
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. net — after costs
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. roll — a cake
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. ground — crushed
  16. net — in sport
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fall — to drop
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. ground — the earth
  21. net — for catching
  22. ground — a position
  23. stock — shares
  24. fall — to drop

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