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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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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 · hide · root · ball · bank · suit · chest · rest

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. chest — of your body
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a great time
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. root — of a word
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — a break
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. suit — in cards
  15. suit — to fit
  16. root — the cause
  17. chest — a box
  18. rest — what's left
  19. chest — of your body
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. suit — clothes
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bank — for money

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