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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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. pop — soda
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pop — to visit
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. spring — a coil
  11. pop — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. foot — a measure
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. toast — bread
  19. spring — of water
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. pound — a weight

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