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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 · bank · cap · root · ruler · bowl · date · can

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bank — of a river
  3. cap — a lid
  4. bank — for money
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. rash — hasty
  11. cap — of ice
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. rash — a series
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. cap — a hat
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. root — of a word
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bank — for money

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