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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: mine · mate · foot · net · nail · ruler · land · bank

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bank — for money
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. mate — a partner
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. land — ground
  12. mate — to breed
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. foot — a measure
  16. net — after costs
  17. mate — a friend
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. net — in sport
  20. mine — for digging
  21. net — for catching
  22. land — a country
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. land — to come down

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