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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: ruler · chair · race · toast · shower · net · mark · stand

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. race — the arms race
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. net — in sport
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. mark — a trace
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. mark — a grade
  13. net — for catching
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. shower — to wash
  16. race — humankind
  17. race — a contest
  18. toast — bread
  19. chair — a leader
  20. shower — rain
  21. stand — to bear
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. net — after costs

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