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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — hasty
  8. wound — an injury
  9. tube — the underground
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. wound — an injury
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. tube — a container
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ball — a dance
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. rash — a series
  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