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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 116 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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. shower — to wash
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mark — a grade
  7. current — of water
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. ground — the earth
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. scale — in music
  12. ground — a position
  13. scale — size or range
  14. shower — rain
  15. face — to point toward
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — a permit
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. current — electric
  20. face — part of the head
  21. current — happening now
  22. mark — a trace
  23. ground — crushed
  24. face — to confront

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