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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: branch · vault · pitcher · coach · ball · content · ruler · temple

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. ball — a dance
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. vault — a safe
  6. ball — a great time
  7. content — happy
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. content — the amount
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. branch — a division
  24. ruler — for measuring

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