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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. shower — to wash
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. court — of law
  8. staff — a stick
  9. cue — for pool
  10. court — for sport
  11. charge — electricity
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. charge — a price
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. staff — employees
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. court — of a king
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. cue — a signal
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. cue — a hint
  23. shower — rain
  24. charge — in control

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