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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.

Words on the sheet
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: ruler · rash · toast · nail · bank · bay · bulb · pitcher

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. toast — bread
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. rash — hasty
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bank — for money
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. rash — a series

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