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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 · saw · ruler · drill · rash · net · bowl · squash

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. net — in sport
  5. squash — to crush
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rest — what's left
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. rash — a series
  12. net — after costs
  13. squash — the sport
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rest — a break
  16. drill — army training
  17. rash — hasty
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rash — on the skin

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