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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. roll — a cake
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. branch — a division
  8. mark — a trace
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. mark — a grade
  13. roll — a list
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. wake — a trail
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. dip — to sink
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. foot — a measure
  24. arm — part of the body

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