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

Word bank: toast · temple · band · tear · lean · lie · jam · ruler

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. tear — to rip
  8. tear — from crying
  9. lie — to recline
  10. toast — bread
  11. band — a ring
  12. band — a music group
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. lean — to bend
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. lean — thin
  17. tear — from crying
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. lie — an untruth

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