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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. current — electric
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. season — of the year
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. season — in sport
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. cue — a hint
  14. saw — the tool
  15. current — of water
  16. cue — for pool
  17. current — happening now
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. cue — a signal
  21. game — a match
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. season — to add flavour

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