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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. court — for sport
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. press — newspapers
  7. press — a publisher
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. squash — the sport
  13. court — of law
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. press — to push
  17. court — of a king
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. foot — a measure
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. squash — to crush
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — on a finger

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