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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mug · stem · temple · rock · rule · jam

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. rock — music
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — a cup
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mug — to rob
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. rule — government
  17. stem — to come from
  18. rule — a law

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