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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 · capital · band · board · rush · bank · bulb · ruler

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. board — to get on
  4. bulb — for light
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bulb — for light
  7. band — a music group
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. board — a committee
  12. capital — money
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. bank — for money
  15. capital — a city
  16. bank — of a river
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. band — a ring
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bank — for money
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. rush — hurry

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