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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: bark · ruler · mark · staff · foot · can · cabinet · scale

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. staff — employees
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. scale — size or range
  7. staff — a stick
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. scale — in music
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. bark — to shout
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mark — a trace
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. foot — a measure

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