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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. current — electric
  4. lie — to recline
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. press — newspapers
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. can — a tin
  12. press — a publisher
  13. firm — a company
  14. game — a match
  15. press — to push
  16. row — a line
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. game — wild animals
  19. firm — steady
  20. row — to paddle
  21. current — of water
  22. firm — decided
  23. current — happening now
  24. ruler — a monarch

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