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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. squash — the sport
  3. firm — a company
  4. can — a tin
  5. firm — decided
  6. pop — music
  7. perch — the fish
  8. squash — to crush
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. pop — soda
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. prune — to trim
  15. can — to be able to
  16. prune — to trim
  17. sharp — clever
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. pop — to visit
  24. firm — steady

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