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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: trunk · wind · cabinet · nail · stand · ruler · file · bay

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wind — moving air
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. file — a line of people
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. file — a tool
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. stand — to bear
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. file — a document
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. wind — moving air

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