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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: rule · can · suit · roll · temple · toast · snap · chair

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. roll — a list
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. chair — a leader
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. snap — to click
  9. roll — a cake
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. suit — in cards
  12. can — to be able to
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. toast — bread
  15. can — a tin
  16. rule — government
  17. suit — clothes
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. suit — to fit
  21. rule — a law
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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