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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. scale — size or range
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. toast — bread
  8. tube — a container
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. tear — from crying
  15. tube — the underground
  16. scale — in music
  17. tear — to rip
  18. object — an aim
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. object — to protest
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — a permit
  23. tear — from crying
  24. pass — to succeed

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