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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.

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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. track — a path
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. present — the time now
  11. board — to get on
  12. track — a song
  13. bore — to tire
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bore — to drill
  16. board — a committee
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. track — to keep track
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. present — a gift
  23. present — there
  24. lash — an eyelash

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