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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rash — hasty
  3. suit — to fit
  4. ball — a dance
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bass — the fish
  7. suit — clothes
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rash — a series
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. squash — to crush
  13. cue — a signal
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rest — what's left
  17. suit — in cards
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bass — low music
  20. rest — a break
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. cue — for pool
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ruler — for measuring

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