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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: rash · ruler · press · foot · rush · pitcher · cabinet · bowl

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — a series
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. press — a publisher
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. press — newspapers
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. foot — a measure
  24. press — to push

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