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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: sharp · club · ruler · mug · wake · saw · fan · pitcher

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. sharp — clever
  4. wake — a trail
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. saw — the tool
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mug — to rob
  13. saw — the tool
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. mug — a cup
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mug — a face
  22. club — for golf
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. club — for dancing

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