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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. bore — to tire
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. snap — to click
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. last — final
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bore — to drill
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. suit — to fit
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. lie — to recline
  19. suit — clothes
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. last — finally
  22. suit — in cards
  23. last — to go on
  24. deal — a big deal

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