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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. spell — a short time
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bore — to drill
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. suit — in cards
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. suit — clothes
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. bark — to shout
  19. spell — letters
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. bore — to tire
  22. spell — magic
  23. suit — to fit
  24. arm — part of the body

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