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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
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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: mug · last · ruler · rush · lean · plane · deal · stick

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mug — to rob
  4. rush — hurry
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. last — finally
  7. mug — a cup
  8. deal — to handle
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. lean — to bend
  12. last — to go on
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. last — final
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. plane — a tool
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. lean — thin
  24. plane — in geometry

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