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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. firm — a company
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. firm — steady
  9. date — the fruit
  10. roll — a list
  11. firm — decided
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. roll — a cake
  14. net — after costs
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. sharp — clever
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. net — in sport
  24. roll — on a roll

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