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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. face — part of the head
  5. track — a song
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. stem — to come from
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. press — a publisher
  12. rush — hurry
  13. press — newspapers
  14. track — to keep track
  15. firm — decided
  16. firm — a company
  17. press — to push
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. firm — steady
  20. face — to confront
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. track — a path
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. face — to point toward

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