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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bulb — for light
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. rule — government
  9. mark — a grade
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. sharp — clever
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rule — a law
  21. rush — hurry
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. perch — the fish
  24. fan — a supporter

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