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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bass — the fish
  8. face — to confront
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. ball — a great time
  11. rush — hurry
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. face — to point toward
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bass — low music
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pound — a weight
  21. pass — a permit
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. face — part of the head
  24. pound — for dogs

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