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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — a cake
  5. ground — a position
  6. bulb — for light
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. ground — crushed
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. prune — to trim
  12. saw — the tool
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. ground — the earth
  17. suit — in cards
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. prune — to trim
  24. suit — clothes

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