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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: ruler · track · squash · cabinet · fork · row · suit · leaves

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. row — a line
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. squash — to crush
  9. track — a song
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. suit — to fit
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. track — a path
  14. squash — the sport
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. suit — in cards
  18. track — to keep track
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. suit — clothes
  21. fork — in a road
  22. row — to paddle
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — to go away

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