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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  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. bat — in an idiom
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. firm — decided
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. firm — a company
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. bulb — for light
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bat — the animal
  17. firm — steady
  18. hand — in cards
  19. saw — the tool
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. hand — help
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. temple — a place of worship

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