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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. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. charge — electricity
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. charge — a price
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. kid — child
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. vault — a safe
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mark — a grade
  17. fine — all right
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. roll — a cake
  20. mark — a trace
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. fine — high quality
  23. roll — a list
  24. charge — in control

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