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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: bulb · straw · ruler · spell · arm · rest · safe · temple

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. spell — a short time
  6. spell — magic
  7. spell — letters
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. rest — a break
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. bulb — for light
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. rest — what's left

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