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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: bulb · bound · ruler · fine · rash · wound · squash · temple

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. bulb — for light
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bound — certain
  5. squash — to crush
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. wound — an injury
  8. rash — hasty
  9. squash — the sport
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. rash — a series
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bound — obliged
  14. wound — an injury
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. fine — all right
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. bound — tied together
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fine — high quality

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