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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: game · ruler · lie · sharp · bay · spell · temple · firm

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. firm — a company
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. firm — decided
  7. spell — a short time
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. spell — letters
  10. firm — steady
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. game — a match
  14. spell — magic
  15. lie — to recline
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. game — wild animals
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. sharp — clever
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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