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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  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. lean — to bend
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. spring — of water
  7. suit — in cards
  8. spring — the season
  9. spring — a coil
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bulb — for light
  13. suit — to fit
  14. board — a committee
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bulb — for light
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. board — to get on
  21. suit — clothes
  22. lean — thin
  23. temple — side of the head
  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