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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 116 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — to protest
  3. swing — in golf
  4. object — an aim
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — size or range
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. swing — music
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. rock — music
  13. scale — in music
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. swing — to play on
  18. bound — obliged
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rush — to hurry

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