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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: ruler · can · temple · dip · file · pit · pop · stand

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. file — a line of people
  6. pop — to visit
  7. can — to be able to
  8. file — a document
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. dip — to sink
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pop — music
  14. can — a tin
  15. pop — soda
  16. can — a tin
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. stand — to bear
  21. pit — a hole
  22. file — a tool
  23. pit — in a race
  24. temple — side of the head

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