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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. can — a tin
  4. file — a tool
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. can — a tin
  7. file — a line of people
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bore — to tire
  10. clip — to cut
  11. wound — an injury
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. clip — a video
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. clip — for paper
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. bore — to drill
  22. can — to be able to
  23. wound — an injury
  24. file — a document

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