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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: current · degree · temple · ruler · march · firm · perch · key

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. firm — steady
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. current — electric
  5. perch — the fish
  6. degree — temperature
  7. firm — decided
  8. current — of water
  9. firm — a company
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. march — music
  12. march — the month
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. degree — an amount
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. march — the month
  17. key — for a lock
  18. current — happening now
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. degree — from a university
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. key — the most important part
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. key — in music

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