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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. fork — in a road
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. drill — army training
  11. bulb — for light
  12. sharp — clever
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. drill — the tool
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. deal — to handle
  24. drill — a practice

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