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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: lie · ruler · pass · bound · temple · jam · net · fan

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pass — a permit
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. net — after costs
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bound — certain
  10. net — for catching
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bound — obliged
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bound — tied together
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. net — in sport
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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