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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. sharp — clever
  4. dip — to sink
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mark — a grade
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. mug — a cup
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. game — a match
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. game — wild animals
  19. mark — a trace
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. temple — side of the head

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