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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mug — to rob
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a committee
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. lean — thin
  13. mug — a face
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. mug — a cup
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. lean — to bend
  20. mate — to breed
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mate — a friend

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