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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 120 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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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: mouse · ruler · snap · pound · last · foot · cabinet · fine

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pound — a weight
  6. last — finally
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. fine — all right
  13. last — to go on
  14. snap — to click
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. foot — a measure
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. last — final
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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