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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. lean — thin
  5. lean — to bend
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rest — what's left
  10. rest — a break
  11. lie — to recline
  12. capital — a city
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. capital — money
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. rest — what's left
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. arm — a part of something

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