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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. saw — the tool
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pop — to visit
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. pop — soda
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — of the year
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wake — a trail
  15. pop — music
  16. foot — a measure
  17. snap — to click
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. season — in sport
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. snap — to snap out of it

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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