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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.

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: arm · ball · rush · chair · ruler · hide · mug · fork

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ball — a dance
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. rush — hurry
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mug — a cup
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. fork — in a road
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a face
  21. ball — a great time
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. chair — a leader

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