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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. last — finally
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. can — to be able to
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bank — for money
  8. kid — to tease
  9. hand — in cards
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. hand — help
  13. bank — for money
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. scale — in music
  16. can — a tin
  17. last — final
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. can — a tin
  20. scale — size or range
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. last — to go on
  24. kid — child

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