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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. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. net — after costs
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rule — a law
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. saw — the tool
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. rule — government
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. perch — the fish
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. net — for catching
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. saw — the tool
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. net — in sport
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rule — to rule out

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