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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. object — an aim
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. firm — steady
  6. hand — help
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mug — a cup
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. hand — in cards
  12. season — of the year
  13. mug — to rob
  14. object — a thing
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. mug — a face
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. firm — a company
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. firm — decided
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. snap — to click
  24. season — in sport

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