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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 120 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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. band — a ring
  5. bound — certain
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — happening now
  8. scale — in music
  9. current — of water
  10. bound — obliged
  11. current — electric
  12. band — a music group
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. fine — all right
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. scale — size or range
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. bound — tied together
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bear — the animal
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bear — the animal

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