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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. rash — hasty
  3. ground — the earth
  4. rash — a series
  5. ground — crushed
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. hand — help
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. hand — in cards
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ground — a position
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pass — a permit
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pass — to succeed

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