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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: cabinet · bore · bowl · rock · foot · ruler · suit · last

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. last — final
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. foot — a measure
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. last — finally
  9. bore — to tire
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. last — to go on
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. rock — music
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. suit — to fit
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. bore — to drill
  23. rock — a stone
  24. suit — in cards

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