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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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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bark — to shout
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. suit — in cards
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. band — a music group
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. date — the fruit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. band — a ring
  23. suit — to fit
  24. fan — a supporter

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