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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · press · sharp · spell · plane · patient · jam · trunk

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  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 — a monarch
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. press — newspapers
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. sharp — clever
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. plane — a tool
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — magic
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. press — to push
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. press — a publisher
  23. trunk — of a tree
  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