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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.

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: race · leaves · wave · track · nail · sharp · ruler · mug

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mug — a cup
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. race — humankind
  5. sharp — clever
  6. track — a path
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. race — a contest
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. mug — to rob
  13. track — a song
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. mug — a face
  20. track — to keep track
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. race — the arms race

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