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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 120 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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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: row · temple · racket · arm · root · ruler · cabinet · fork

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. row — to paddle
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. root — of a word
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. root — the cause
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. root — of a plant
  20. fork — in a road
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. cabinet — ministers

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