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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: rule · stock · temple · bulb · court · foot · stick · bore

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. bulb — for light
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stock — goods
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. foot — a measure
  15. stock — shares
  16. court — of a king
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. court — of law
  23. rule — government
  24. court — for sport

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