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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: object · net · trunk · present · bulb · ruler · cabinet · last

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. present — the time now
  4. net — for catching
  5. last — finally
  6. last — final
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. object — to protest
  13. net — in sport
  14. last — to go on
  15. present — there
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. net — after costs
  20. bulb — for light
  21. object — an aim
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. bulb — for light
  24. object — a thing

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