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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lie — to recline
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. foot — a measure
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. squash — the sport
  7. spell — letters
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. squash — to crush
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spell — magic
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. stem — to come from
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. foot — the bottom

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