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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.

Words on the sheet
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 · lash · lean · mark · charge · patient · can · trunk

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — to be able to
  3. charge — electricity
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. charge — in control
  11. lean — to bend
  12. mark — a trace
  13. lean — thin
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. can — a tin
  18. charge — a price
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a grade
  24. can — a tin

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