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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 116 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: sharp · trunk · chair · ruler · chip · nail · track · drill

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. track — a song
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. drill — a practice
  6. chip — to eat
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. chip — for betting
  10. track — to keep track
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. chair — a leader
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. drill — the tool
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. drill — army training
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. track — a path
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. chair — a professorship

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