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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: temple · bark · spell · calf · ruler · lie · fine · rash

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. rash — hasty
  3. spell — a short time
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rash — a series
  9. spell — letters
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. fine — all right
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. spell — magic
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bark — to shout
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. lie — to recline

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