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

Word bank: cabinet · kid · fine · root · temple · mug · wake · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. root — of a word
  4. mug — a face
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. wake — a trail
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. kid — to tease
  14. fine — all right
  15. root — of a plant
  16. kid — child
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. root — the cause
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mug — a cup

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