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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: foot · row · cabinet · rest · rule · roll · court · bowl

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. row — to paddle
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. rest — what's left
  6. court — for sport
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. court — of a king
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rule — government
  12. roll — a cake
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rule — a law
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. court — of law
  23. row — a line
  24. cabinet — ministers

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