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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. land — to come down
  3. wake — a trail
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. land — ground
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mug — a face
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. mug — a cup
  20. land — a country
  21. mug — to rob
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. lie — to recline
  24. wake — before a funeral

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