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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.

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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: ruler · bear · temple · trunk · sharp · safe · lean · root

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. sharp — clever
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. root — the cause
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. lean — thin
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. root — of a word
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bear — the animal
  22. root — of a plant
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. lean — to bend

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