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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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468
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: toast · can · cabinet · ruler · roll · foot · bear · drill

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. drill — army training
  5. can — a tin
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. can — a tin
  9. bear — the animal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. can — to be able to
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. roll — a list
  15. drill — the tool
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. toast — bread
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. drill — a practice
  21. roll — a cake
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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