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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 · wake · object · mug · trunk · key · chest · rush

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. wake — a trail
  7. key — for a lock
  8. mug — to rob
  9. object — a thing
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. chest — a box
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. key — the most important part
  16. object — an aim
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. object — to protest
  19. chest — of your body
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. chest — of your body
  22. key — in music
  23. mug — a cup
  24. rush — hurry

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