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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: saw · can · tear · cap · staff · deal · wound · ruler

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. wound — an injury
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. deal — to handle
  7. saw — the tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wound — an injury
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. staff — employees
  13. cap — of ice
  14. staff — a stick
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. staff — employees
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. tear — to rip
  19. cap — a lid
  20. saw — the tool
  21. tear — from crying
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. cap — a hat
  24. ruler — a monarch

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