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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 120 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. wake — a trail
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. rash — a series
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. vault — a safe
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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