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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bore — to tire
  6. object — an aim
  7. pass — a permit
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. content — the amount
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. object — to protest
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. object — a thing
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. content — happy
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. can — a tin
  22. bore — to drill
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. can — a tin

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