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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. pass — a permit
  6. key — for a lock
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bass — the fish
  9. squash — to crush
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. key — in music
  14. bass — low music
  15. squash — the sport
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. key — the most important part
  24. calf — a young animal

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