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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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. pound — a weight
  3. roll — a cake
  4. staff — employees
  5. staff — a stick
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. scale — in music
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. staff — employees
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. scale — size or range
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wind — moving air
  24. roll — a list

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