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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 120 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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bound — tied together
  4. foot — a measure
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rock — music
  7. kick — in football
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. file — a tool
  12. bound — obliged
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. rock — a stone
  16. file — a document
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bound — certain
  22. file — a line of people
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. ruler — for measuring

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