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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. wound — an injury
  4. pop — to visit
  5. mark — a trace
  6. pop — soda
  7. pop — music
  8. bound — obliged
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. bound — certain
  13. kid — to tease
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. kid — child
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. wound — an injury
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bound — tied together
  24. leaves — of a tree

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