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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 116 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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. dip — to sink
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pit — a hole
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. pit — in a race
  8. firm — steady
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. lean — to bend
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. firm — a company
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. lean — thin
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — a permit
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. sharp — clever

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