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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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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: root · fall · spell · temple · ruler · spring · snap · vault

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. fall — the season
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. root — of a word
  8. fall — to drop
  9. spring — a coil
  10. spell — letters
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. snap — to click
  13. vault — a safe
  14. fall — to drop
  15. spring — the season
  16. spring — of water
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. spell — magic
  19. root — of a plant
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. root — the cause
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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