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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. firm — a company
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. mark — a trace
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — music
  9. fork — in a road
  10. firm — steady
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. firm — decided
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mark — a grade
  20. pop — soda
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ruler — for measuring

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