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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lean — thin
  3. rock — music
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. wind — moving air
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. ground — the earth
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. rock — a stone
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wind — moving air
  16. ground — a position
  17. can — a tin
  18. lean — to bend
  19. sharp — clever
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ground — crushed
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — to rest against

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