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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. drill — the tool
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bass — low music
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. drill — a practice
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bass — the fish
  16. drill — army training
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. staff — employees
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. mark — a trace
  22. staff — a stick
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. date — the fruit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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