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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.

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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 · court · temple · craft · kick · bore · ruler · scale

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. court — of a king
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. court — for sport
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mug — a cup
  8. craft — boats
  9. court — of law
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. craft — a skill
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. scale — in music
  18. bore — to drill
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mug — a face
  21. bore — to tire
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. mug — to rob
  24. scale — size or range

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