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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 124 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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. firm — a company
  5. track — a path
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. track — to keep track
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. track — a song
  14. wake — a trail
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. firm — decided
  18. key — for a lock
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. key — in music
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. key — the most important part
  24. firm — steady

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