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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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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: leaves · ruler · cabinet · shower · rest · bank · chair · pound

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bank — of a river
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bank — for money
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bank — for money
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pound — a weight
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. shower — rain
  21. shower — to wash
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. chair — a leader
  24. ruler — for measuring

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