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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. lean — to bend
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. ball — a great time
  11. fall — to drop
  12. ball — a dance
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. spell — a short time
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. fall — the season
  20. lean — thin
  21. fall — to drop
  22. spell — letters
  23. spell — magic
  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