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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: mug · hand · foot · temple · nail · fine · ruler · bulb

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. fine — all right
  5. hand — in cards
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. fine — high quality
  8. bulb — for light
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. mug — a cup
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. bulb — for light
  21. foot — a measure
  22. hand — help
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. temple — a place of worship

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