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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 116 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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468
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 · stand · rush · pitcher · bark · rash · swing · bulb

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. stand — to bear
  7. rash — a series
  8. swing — to play on
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bark — to shout
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. rush — hurry
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bulb — for light
  22. swing — in golf
  23. swing — music
  24. rash — hasty

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