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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mark — a grade
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — a face
  9. rock — music
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. spell — a short time
  12. content — happy
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. spell — magic
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mug — to rob
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. content — the amount
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mine — for digging
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. spell — letters
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mine — an explosive

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