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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. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. charge — a price
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. spell — a short time
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. charge — in control
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. chair — a leader
  10. mate — a partner
  11. charge — electricity
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. spell — letters
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. spell — magic
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. chair — a professorship

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