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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bore · roll · ground · lean · ruler · temple · coach · lash

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. ground — the earth
  5. bore — to drill
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. roll — a list
  9. bore — to tire
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. ground — crushed
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. roll — a cake
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. ground — a position
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lean — to bend

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