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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. False peace will not ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. last — to go on
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. file — a line of people
  5. saw — the tool
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. file — a tool
  10. stand — to bear
  11. saw — the tool
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bound — certain
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rush — hurry
  18. last — finally
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. last — final
  22. file — a document
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. ruler — for measuring

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