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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 120 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bear — the animal
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. dip — to sink
  9. wound — an injury
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. face — to point toward
  12. face — part of the head
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. bear — the animal
  16. face — to confront
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — to get on
  20. board — a committee
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wound — an injury
  24. bear — to put up with

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