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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fine · saw · trunk · bank · date · ruler · drill · lean

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. bank — for money
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. drill — the tool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. date — the fruit
  9. saw — the tool
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. fine — all right
  12. drill — a practice
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bank — of a river
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. saw — the tool
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. lean — to bend
  19. drill — army training
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. bank — for money
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. lean — thin

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