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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: present · wound · can · pitcher · mouse · lie · saw · ruler

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. present — the time now
  10. present — there
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. lie — to recline
  14. can — a tin
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. present — a gift
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wound — an injury
  23. can — a tin
  24. saw — the tool

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