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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. mug — a cup
  6. file — a document
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stand — to bear
  13. mark — a grade
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — a tool
  16. mark — a trace
  17. file — a tool
  18. file — a line of people
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mug — a face
  23. hand — in cards
  24. hand — help

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