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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · fine · nail · can · ruler · wound · saw · mate

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. saw — the tool
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. can — a tin
  5. wound — an injury
  6. saw — the tool
  7. can — to be able to
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mate — a partner
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wound — an injury
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mate — to breed
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fine — all right
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. can — a tin
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. mate — a friend
  24. fine — a penalty

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