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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. staff — employees
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. staff — employees
  11. lie — to recline
  12. season — of the year
  13. season — in sport
  14. shower — rain
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. staff — a stick
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. shower — to wash

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