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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. kick — in football
  4. suit — to fit
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. suit — clothes
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. vault — a safe
  14. staff — a stick
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. staff — employees
  17. lie — to recline
  18. staff — employees
  19. suit — in cards
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. hide — animal skin

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