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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 116 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. current — of water
  3. track — to keep track
  4. cap — a hat
  5. ground — the earth
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. sharp — clever
  9. fall — to drop
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. current — happening now
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. ground — a position
  14. ground — crushed
  15. track — a path
  16. fall — the season
  17. fall — to drop
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cap — of ice
  20. current — electric
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cap — a lid
  23. track — a song
  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