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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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. hand — in cards
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. race — the arms race
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. hand — help
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. rock — music
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rock — a stone
  18. can — a tin
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. can — a tin
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. race — a contest
  24. sharp — clever

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