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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: present · lie · temple · patient · stem · ruler · press · bark

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. press — newspapers
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bark — to shout
  7. press — to push
  8. present — the time now
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. present — there
  15. press — a publisher
  16. stem — to come from
  17. lie — to recline
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. present — a gift
  24. patient — a sick person

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