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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. cue — a hint
  5. clip — to cut
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. current — happening now
  9. clip — for paper
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. clip — a video
  16. cue — for pool
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. branch — a division
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cue — a signal
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. temple — side of the head

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