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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. firm — steady
  4. current — electric
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. can — a tin
  8. firm — a company
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. can — a tin
  14. branch — a division
  15. current — of water
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. sharp — clever
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — happening now
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wound — an injury
  24. firm — decided

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