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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.

Make a worksheet

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: sharp · bear · rule · temple · rock · arm · mug · march

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. rule — government
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. march — the month
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. march — the month
  7. rock — music
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mug — a face
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. mug — a cup
  13. rock — a stone
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bear — the animal
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. rule — a law
  20. bear — the animal
  21. march — music
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mug — to rob

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