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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. lean — to bend
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. saw — the tool
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. lean — thin

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