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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.

Make a worksheet

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: perch · cap · rush · ruler · mouse · mug · temple · lash

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mug — to rob
  4. cap — a lid
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. rush — hurry
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. cap — of ice
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. mug — a face
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. mug — a cup
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. cap — a hat
  24. ruler — for measuring

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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