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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: ball · rush · mark · saw · arm · nail · ruler · charge

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. charge — a price
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rush — hurry
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. ball — a great time
  11. charge — in control
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. charge — electricity
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mark — a trace
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. mark — to pay attention

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