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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: charge · temple · fine · wake · bay · sharp · pit · ruler

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. fine — all right
  5. sharp — clever
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. fine — high quality
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pit — a hole
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. charge — electricity
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. wake — a trail
  20. charge — a price
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. charge — in control

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