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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. march — music
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. file — a document
  8. toast — bread
  9. march — the month
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bat — the animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. file — a line of people
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. file — a tool
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. march — the month
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. saw — the tool

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