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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: can · cabinet · bore · ruler · saw · prune · rush · object

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bore — to tire
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. object — a thing
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. object — an aim
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — a tin
  17. prune — to trim
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bore — to drill
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. saw — the tool

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