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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: rash · saw · roll · bay · pitcher · clip · ruler · safe

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. clip — a video
  4. roll — a cake
  5. rash — a series
  6. saw — the tool
  7. rash — hasty
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. clip — to cut
  13. roll — a list
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. clip — for paper
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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