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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 ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bat — the animal
  3. mug — a face
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wind — moving air
  6. rush — hurry
  7. object — to protest
  8. mug — a cup
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bat — in an idiom
  12. roll — a cake
  13. wind — moving air
  14. mug — to rob
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. object — a thing
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. object — an aim
  21. roll — a list
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. rush — to hurry

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