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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rash — a series
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. prune — to trim
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. chip — for betting
  11. rash — hasty
  12. prune — to trim
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. foot — a measure
  17. lie — to recline
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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