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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. game — a match
  4. land — a country
  5. land — to come down
  6. land — ground
  7. bank — for money
  8. spell — letters
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. game — wild animals
  13. spell — magic
  14. tube — a container
  15. bank — of a river
  16. spell — a short time
  17. bank — for money
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. tube — the underground
  24. foot — a measure

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