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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  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. game — a kind of play
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. suit — in cards
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. ball — a great time
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. game — a match
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. game — wild animals
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. suit — clothes
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. ball — a dance
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. suit — to fit
  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