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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. drill — a practice
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bulb — for light
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. hand — in cards
  12. drill — army training
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bulb — for light
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. drill — the tool
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. hand — help
  22. suit — to fit
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. chair — a leader

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