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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: rush · fine · saw · sharp · ruler · pop · rock · kick

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. pop — soda
  4. fine — high quality
  5. pop — to visit
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. fine — all right
  13. pop — music
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. sharp — clever
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. saw — the tool
  19. rush — hurry
  20. kick — in football
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — music
  24. ruler — for measuring

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