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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: ruler · rush · temple · key · suit · sharp · track · can

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. key — in music
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rush — hurry
  8. track — to keep track
  9. can — to be able to
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. sharp — clever
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. suit — to fit
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. track — a path
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. key — the most important part
  19. track — a song
  20. key — for a lock
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — a tin
  24. sharp — with an edge

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