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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: ruler · current · spring · squash · bass · board · temple · last

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. last — to go on
  4. spring — the season
  5. bass — low music
  6. squash — the sport
  7. current — electric
  8. last — finally
  9. board — to get on
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. last — final
  12. current — of water
  13. squash — to crush
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. board — a committee
  16. spring — of water
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. current — happening now
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bass — the fish
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. temple — side of the head

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