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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: wind · rock · ruler · pop · hand · face · club · can

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pop — to visit
  4. rock — a stone
  5. face — part of the head
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. pop — music
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wind — moving air
  10. face — to point toward
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. can — a tin
  14. pop — soda
  15. hand — help
  16. hand — in cards
  17. club — for golf
  18. rock — music
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. club — for dancing
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. face — to confront
  23. can — a tin
  24. wind — moving air

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