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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: lash · bore · sharp · ground · arm · ruler · lean · temple

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bore — to drill
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. lean — to bend
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. lean — thin
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. ground — a position
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. bore — to tire
  19. ground — crushed
  20. sharp — clever
  21. ground — the earth
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. arm — part of the body

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