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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: ruler · rock · stand · object · mug · net · foot · bear

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. net — in sport
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mug — a face
  8. stand — to bear
  9. object — a thing
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. foot — a measure
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. mug — to rob
  14. rock — music
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. net — for catching
  17. object — to protest
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. net — after costs
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. object — an aim
  24. foot — the bottom

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