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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bear — the animal
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. charge — in control
  19. prune — to trim
  20. charge — electricity
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. mug — a cup
  24. charge — a price

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