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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. object — a thing
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. file — a line of people
  5. land — to come down
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. land — ground
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. file — a tool
  10. file — a document
  11. object — an aim
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. shower — to wash
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. land — a country
  19. object — to protest
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. shower — rain
  23. saw — the tool
  24. lash — to lash out

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