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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.

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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. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. can — to be able to
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. chip — to eat
  9. can — a tin
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. key — in music
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. wound — an injury
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. key — the most important part
  21. wound — an injury
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — for betting
  24. key — for a lock

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