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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wind — moving air
  4. hand — help
  5. ball — a great time
  6. can — a tin
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. ball — a dance
  11. hand — in cards
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mine — for digging
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. can — a tin
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wind — moving air
  24. mine — an explosive

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