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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. file — a line of people
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lie — to recline
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. deal — to handle
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. hand — help
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. file — a document
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. file — a tool

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