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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: ruler · content · object · jam · cabinet · saw · rock · date

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. object — an aim
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. rock — a stone
  6. saw — the tool
  7. object — to protest
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. date — the fruit
  12. content — happy
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. content — the amount
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. rock — music
  21. object — a thing
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. jam — in traffic
  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