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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: face · jam · safe · ball · stem · nail · ruler · shower

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. shower — to wash
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. face — to confront
  9. face — part of the head
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. stem — to come from
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ball — a dance
  22. shower — rain
  23. face — to point toward
  24. ball — a round shape

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