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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.

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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. lie — to recline
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a dance
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. sharp — clever
  14. club — for dancing
  15. rash — hasty
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. club — a group
  19. club — for golf
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. prune — to trim
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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