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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: pop · straw · game · temple · stand · lash · prune · ruler

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. prune — to trim
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. stand — to bear
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. game — wild animals
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. game — a match
  12. pop — music
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pop — soda
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pop — to visit
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. stand — for spectators

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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