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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 124 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. False peace will not ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. last — to go on
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. file — a line of people
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. last — final
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. file — a document
  17. last — finally
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. file — a tool
  22. lie — to recline
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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