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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: spell · branch · kick · ruler · temple · bear · court · pit

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. branch — a division
  7. bear — the animal
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. bear — the animal
  10. kick — in football
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. court — of law
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. pit — a hole
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. spell — magic
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. court — for sport
  21. court — of a king
  22. pit — in a race
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. spell — letters

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