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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. current — of water
  5. content — happy
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. kid — to tease
  8. lie — to recline
  9. kid — child
  10. content — the amount
  11. game — a match
  12. fine — all right
  13. current — electric
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — a face
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. current — happening now
  21. game — wild animals
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. mug — a cup
  24. fine — high quality

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