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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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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: row · last · rule · ruler · coach · dip · fork · stand

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. last — to go on
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. dip — to sink
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. fork — in a road
  12. rule — government
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. last — finally
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. stand — to bear
  21. row — a line
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. last — final
  24. row — to paddle

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