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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. drill — a practice
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. drill — the tool
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. can — a tin
  10. degree — from a university
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. hand — help
  15. degree — temperature
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. hand — in cards
  19. drill — army training
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. degree — an amount
  23. can — a tin
  24. leaves — of a tree

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