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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: cabinet · sharp · ruler · bank · cap · shower · bark · rock

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. cap — a hat
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cap — of ice
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. shower — rain
  10. bank — for money
  11. shower — to wash
  12. bank — of a river
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. sharp — clever
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. rock — music
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bank — for money
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. cap — a lid
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. bark — to shout

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