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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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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: cabinet · last · current · board · trunk · rash · ruler · mark

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mark — a grade
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. rash — a series
  5. current — of water
  6. rash — hasty
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. board — a committee
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. board — to get on
  15. current — happening now
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. mark — a trace
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. last — finally
  20. current — electric
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. last — final
  23. last — to go on
  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