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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: rest · pitcher · ruler · rush · bear · bank · bay · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rest — a break
  3. rush — hurry
  4. bear — the animal
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bank — for money
  13. mark — a trace
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bank — for money
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. rest — what's left
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rest — what's left

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