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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 120 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: staff · lean · ruler · rush · rule · board · cap · bank

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. staff — employees
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. staff — employees
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bank — for money
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bank — of a river
  9. staff — a stick
  10. bank — for money
  11. cap — a hat
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — a committee
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. rule — government
  17. cap — of ice
  18. cap — a lid
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — thin
  24. rule — a law

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