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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. hand — help
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. clip — for paper
  5. clip — a video
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. can — a tin
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. can — to be able to
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. can — a tin
  21. hand — in cards
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. clip — to cut
  24. bowl — to roll

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