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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. root — of a plant
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. file — a line of people
  9. band — a ring
  10. mug — a cup
  11. file — a document
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. band — a music group
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. root — of a word
  17. root — the cause
  18. file — a tool
  19. staff — a stick
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. staff — employees
  22. lie — to recline
  23. mug — to rob
  24. staff — employees

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