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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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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 · sharp · clip · snap · staff · stem · ruler · foot

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. clip — a video
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. staff — employees
  6. snap — to click
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. staff — employees
  9. foot — a measure
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. clip — to cut
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. clip — for paper
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. staff — a stick
  17. rash — hasty
  18. stem — to come from
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rash — a series
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. sharp — clever
  24. ruler — for measuring

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