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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rock — music
  3. charge — a price
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. hand — help
  6. tear — from crying
  7. hand — in cards
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. tear — to rip
  13. mark — a trace
  14. file — a tool
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. charge — electricity
  17. file — a line of people
  18. stem — to come from
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. file — a document
  22. charge — in control
  23. tear — from crying
  24. mark — a grade

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