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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. shower — rain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. shower — to wash
  10. rash — a series
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. craft — a skill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. rash — hasty
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. craft — boats

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