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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 120 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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. scale — size or range
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. staff — employees
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. staff — a stick
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. chest — a box
  12. chest — of your body
  13. staff — employees
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. suit — to fit
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. suit — clothes
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rash — a series
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. suit — in cards
  24. scale — in music

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