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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: net · vault · craft · club · leaves · ruler · rule · temple

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. net — for catching
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. net — after costs
  7. vault — a safe
  8. craft — boats
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. club — for golf
  11. rule — a law
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. club — a group
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. craft — a skill
  22. club — for dancing
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rule — government

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