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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: dip · fork · net · firm · ruler · temple · straw · mark

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fork — in a road
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. net — for catching
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. mark — a grade
  12. firm — decided
  13. net — in sport
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. mark — a trace
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. dip — to sink
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. net — after costs
  22. firm — a company
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fork — a garden tool

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