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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: saw · fall · row · foot · racket · cabinet · mug · ruler

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. foot — a measure
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. fall — to drop
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. row — to paddle
  16. fall — the season
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. saw — the tool
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. fall — to drop
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. row — a line

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