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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.

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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: ground · wound · rock · ruler · charge · fine · fan · lean

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. ground — the earth
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wound — an injury
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. lean — to bend
  8. rock — music
  9. charge — in control
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. charge — electricity
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. fine — all right
  18. charge — a price
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. ground — crushed
  21. wound — an injury
  22. ground — a position
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. lean — to rest against

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