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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. date — the fruit
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. face — to confront
  7. bulb — for light
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. face — part of the head
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. foot — a measure
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. face — to point toward
  22. bulb — for light
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. coach — a trainer

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