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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: rush · ruler · rest · bass · row · cabinet · saw · bank

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. row — to paddle
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. bank — for money
  13. bass — low music
  14. bank — of a river
  15. rest — what's left
  16. row — a line
  17. rest — a break
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bank — for money
  21. saw — the tool
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rush — to hurry

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