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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. wound — an injury
  4. season — in sport
  5. rest — what's left
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rest — what's left
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. ground — crushed
  12. season — of the year
  13. rest — a break
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. ground — the earth
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. plane — a tool
  20. ground — a position
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. wound — an injury

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