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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: cabinet · mine · current · nail · arm · ruler · deal · squash

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. current — electric
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mine — for digging
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. current — happening now
  10. squash — to crush
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. current — of water
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. deal — to handle
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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