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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: trunk · ball · chair · ruler · mouse · foot · file · can

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. can — a tin
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. file — a line of people
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. foot — a measure
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. can — a tin
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. file — a document
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. chair — a leader
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. file — a tool
  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