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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. firm — decided
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. clip — a video
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. game — wild animals
  10. bound — obliged
  11. foot — a measure
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. clip — for paper
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bound — certain
  18. firm — steady
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. firm — a company
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. clip — to cut
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bound — tied together

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