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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 smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  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. stand — for spectators
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. stand — to bear
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. hand — in cards
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. face — to point toward
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. sharp — clever
  20. face — part of the head
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. hand — help
  23. face — to confront
  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