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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.

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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: rest · jam · fan · ruler · dip · nail · pop · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pop — soda
  5. dip — to sink
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. rest — what's left
  12. pop — music
  13. rest — what's left
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. pop — to visit
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. rest — a break
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — a monarch

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