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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mug — a face
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. current — of water
  9. file — a tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mug — to rob
  13. suit — in cards
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. file — a document
  17. mug — a cup
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. file — a line of people
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. suit — clothes
  23. current — electric
  24. current — happening now

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