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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  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. sharp — with an edge
  2. wind — moving air
  3. rest — what's left
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. rest — a break
  6. present — the time now
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. face — to confront
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. present — there
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. wind — moving air
  13. mug — a face
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mug — a cup
  19. face — to point toward
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rest — what's left
  22. face — part of the head
  23. present — a gift
  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