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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: ruler · cabinet · mark · rock · deal · bowl · tube · bark

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  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. bark — of a tree
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. mark — a grade
  7. tube — a container
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. tube — the underground
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bark — to shout
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rock — a stone
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. mark — a trace
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. rock — music
  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