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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: squash · foot · row · ruler · temple · bore · jam · deal

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bore — to drill
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. row — to paddle
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. row — a line
  19. bore — to tire
  20. squash — the sport
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. squash — to crush
  24. jam — in traffic

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