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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: drill · ruler · rest · sharp · mark · stand · trunk · charge

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. drill — the tool
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. rest — a break
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rest — what's left
  10. charge — electricity
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. rest — what's left
  13. charge — in control
  14. mark — a grade
  15. drill — army training
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — clever
  19. mark — a trace
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. charge — a price
  22. stand — to bear
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. ruler — for measuring

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