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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: fine · fall · lie · bowl · chair · ruler · can · toast

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fall — the season
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. toast — bread
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lie — to recline
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. fall — to drop
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. chair — a leader
  21. fine — high quality
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. ruler — a monarch

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