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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. ball — a great time
  6. pit — a hole
  7. bank — for money
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. rock — music
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bank — for money
  17. pit — in a race
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. ball — a dance
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bank — of a river

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