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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: temple · pass · pitcher · bore · ruler · chip · pop · court

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pop — music
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pop — soda
  10. court — of a king
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bore — to drill
  13. bore — to tire
  14. pass — a permit
  15. court — for sport
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. court — of law
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. chip — to eat
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. chip — for betting

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