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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bound — tied together
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. swing — to play on
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wound — an injury
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bound — certain
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bound — obliged
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. swing — music
  21. sharp — clever
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. swing — in golf
  24. hide — to keep secret

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