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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. pit — a hole
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. ground — crushed
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. wind — to turn a key
  11. wind — moving air
  12. wound — an injury
  13. wake — a trail
  14. bass — low music
  15. ground — the earth
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — the fish
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. pit — in a race
  20. ground — a position
  21. wind — moving air
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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