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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 120 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: pass · arm · pit · ruler · land · can · fan · mouse

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. pit — in a race
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. can — a tin
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. land — a country
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. land — to come down
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. land — ground
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. pass — a permit
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. pit — a hole

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