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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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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: race · temple · ruler · cue · date · bay · toast · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. race — humankind
  8. race — a contest
  9. cue — a hint
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. date — the fruit
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. toast — bread
  15. board — a committee
  16. cue — a signal
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. race — the arms race
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. cue — for pool

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