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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 trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. object — to protest
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. object — a thing
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. pass — a permit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. net — after costs
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. object — an aim
  15. staff — employees
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. chip — for betting
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. staff — a stick
  22. net — for catching
  23. net — in sport
  24. staff — employees

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