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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. track — a song
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. pit — a hole
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. row — to paddle
  10. mug — a cup
  11. pit — in a race
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. row — a line
  14. tube — a container
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mug — a face
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. track — a path
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. tube — the underground
  22. track — to keep track
  23. mug — to rob
  24. foot — a measure

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