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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — the most important part
  3. wake — a trail
  4. net — for catching
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. file — a line of people
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mark — a grade
  10. net — after costs
  11. saw — the tool
  12. file — a document
  13. key — for a lock
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. key — in music
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. net — in sport
  22. file — a tool
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mark — a trace

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