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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. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bore — to tire
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ground — a position
  10. bore — to drill
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. roll — a list
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. ground — the earth
  15. roll — a cake
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. date — the fruit
  24. bore — gave birth

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