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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. saw — the tool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bank — for money
  8. mark — a trace
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. lie — to recline
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. mark — a grade
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bank — for money
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mark — to pay attention

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