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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: temple · lash · ruler · chest · pitch · can · safe · rash

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. rash — a series
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. can — a tin
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. can — to be able to
  12. chest — of your body
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. chest — of your body
  16. pitch — completely
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. can — a tin
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rash — hasty
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. chest — a box

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