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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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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: lean · temple · ruler · cabinet · chip · leaves · mug · kick

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. lean — to bend
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. chip — to eat
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. mug — a face
  15. lean — thin
  16. kick — in football
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. chip — for betting

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