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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: temple · wound · ruler · mate · wake · mark · patient · rash

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. rash — a series
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. rash — hasty
  9. wake — a trail
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mark — a grade
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. wound — an injury
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. wound — an injury
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mate — to breed
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mate — a friend
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. mark — a trace
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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