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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: row · bulb · wind · arm · mug · net · ruler · board

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  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. bulb — for light
  3. net — in sport
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mug — a face
  6. board — a committee
  7. wind — moving air
  8. row — a line
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. wind — moving air
  12. mug — to rob
  13. board — to get on
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. net — after costs
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. row — to paddle
  20. bulb — for light
  21. net — for catching
  22. mug — a cup
  23. ruler — for measuring
  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