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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. spring — a coil
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. spring — of water
  6. suit — to fit
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — electric
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. cue — a signal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. cue — for pool
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. scale — size or range
  17. current — of water
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. cue — a hint
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. scale — in music
  22. spring — the season
  23. suit — in cards
  24. scale — for weighing

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