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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: row · ruler · roll · trunk · temple · mouse · stand · dip

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. dip — to sink
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. roll — a list
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. roll — a cake
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. row — to paddle
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. row — a line
  24. ruler — for measuring

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