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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: temple · pitcher · fan · bound · march · suit · rule · fall

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rule — government
  4. fall — the season
  5. rule — a law
  6. bound — obliged
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fall — to drop
  16. bound — tied together
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. march — the month
  19. bound — certain
  20. march — music
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. suit — to fit
  24. fall — to drop

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