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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: pound · season · scale · temple · spring · cabinet · ruler · calf

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. spring — the season
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. season — in sport
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. scale — size or range
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. spring — a coil
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. season — of the year
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. scale — in music
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. spring — of water
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pound — to hit hard

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