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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. roll — a list
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. rash — a series
  6. lean — thin
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. roll — a cake
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. can — a tin
  13. lean — to bend
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. can — to be able to
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. can — a tin
  19. scale — size or range
  20. scale — in music
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. fine — all right
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. lean — to rest against

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