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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — in control
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. ground — crushed
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. ground — the earth
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. charge — electricity
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. wake — a trail
  18. drill — the tool
  19. charge — a price
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. drill — a practice
  22. ground — a position
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. drill — army training

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