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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. wound — an injury
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — completely
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. wound — an injury
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. craft — a skill
  22. mark — a grade
  23. toast — bread
  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