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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. spring — the season
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. staff — a stick
  11. squash — the sport
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — employees
  15. squash — to crush
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. pound — a weight
  18. mark — a grade
  19. spring — a coil
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. spring — of water
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. ruler — for measuring

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