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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: can · pass · temple · squash · ruler · pitcher · land · bat

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bat — the animal
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. squash — the sport
  10. land — a country
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. squash — to crush
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — a tin
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. land — to come down
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. land — ground
  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