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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 120 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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ground — the earth
  4. net — for catching
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. row — to paddle
  7. net — in sport
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ground — a position
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ground — crushed
  14. cue — for pool
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. squash — the sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. cue — a hint
  20. wound — an injury
  21. wound — an injury
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. row — a line
  24. cue — a signal

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