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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 120 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: last · sharp · march · temple · rush · ruler · chip · racket

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. last — finally
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. march — the month
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. last — to go on
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. march — music
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. last — final
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. chip — for betting
  20. march — the month
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. rush — hurry
  24. chip — to eat

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