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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 hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pop — music
  6. pass — a permit
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bank — of a river
  11. pop — soda
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. bank — for money
  18. hand — help
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — an injury
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. hand — in cards
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bank — for money

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