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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. tear — from crying
  3. fall — the season
  4. tear — from crying
  5. tear — to rip
  6. dip — to sink
  7. last — to go on
  8. object — a thing
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. object — to protest
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. last — final
  18. fall — to drop
  19. fall — to drop
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. object — an aim

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