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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. squash — to crush
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. last — to go on
  6. squash — the sport
  7. deal — to handle
  8. wound — an injury
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. lean — thin
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. wound — an injury
  14. stand — to bear
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. last — finally
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. last — final
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. lean — to bend

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