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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: fork · rock · object · temple · ruler · board · trunk · row

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rock — music
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. row — to paddle
  10. board — a committee
  11. object — an aim
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. fork — in a road
  18. object — to protest
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. row — a line
  21. object — a thing
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. fork — to eat with

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