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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. press — newspapers
  3. content — happy
  4. bound — obliged
  5. sharp — clever
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. bound — certain
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. press — to push
  15. rush — hurry
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. press — a publisher
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. bound — tied together
  24. content — the amount

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