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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mark — a trace
  4. can — a tin
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. object — an aim
  8. rush — hurry
  9. can — to be able to
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. mark — a grade
  12. can — a tin
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. race — the arms race
  15. object — to protest
  16. cell — in biology
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. race — humankind
  23. cell — a phone
  24. race — a contest

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