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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ground — a position
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bear — the animal
  6. current — of water
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bear — the animal
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. can — a tin
  12. plane — a tool
  13. sharp — clever
  14. ground — crushed
  15. prune — to trim
  16. current — electric
  17. can — a tin
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. prune — to trim
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. ground — the earth
  23. current — happening now
  24. sharp — exactly

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