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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. file — a tool
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. game — a match
  18. file — a document
  19. game — wild animals
  20. plane — a tool
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. file — a line of people

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