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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. suit — clothes
  5. shower — to wash
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bass — low music
  8. shower — rain
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bass — the fish
  15. pit — a hole
  16. bank — for money
  17. pit — in a race
  18. bank — for money
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. bank — of a river
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. saw — the tool
  24. sharp — clever

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