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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. tear — to rip
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. tear — from crying
  6. file — a line of people
  7. deal — to handle
  8. file — a document
  9. saw — the tool
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. pop — soda
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rush — hurry
  17. pop — to visit
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pop — music
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. tear — from crying
  23. file — a tool
  24. rush — a thrill

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