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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. stand — to bear
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. fine — all right
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. drill — a practice
  10. row — to paddle
  11. deal — to handle
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. row — a line
  15. sharp — clever
  16. drill — army training
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — high quality
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. drill — the tool

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