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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. hand — in cards
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rush — hurry
  11. object — to protest
  12. hand — help
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mark — a trace
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. mark — a grade
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — a thing

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