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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. can — a tin
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mug — a face
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. sharp — clever
  15. file — a tool
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. file — a document
  21. mug — a cup
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. file — a line of people
  24. patient — a sick person

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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