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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 116 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. march — the month
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. dip — to sink
  5. lie — to recline
  6. march — the month
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. march — music
  9. kid — to tease
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. sharp — clever
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. kid — child
  24. nail — for a hammer

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