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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. fine — all right
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ball — a dance
  6. march — music
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. fine — high quality
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. march — the month
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. snap — to click
  21. march — the month
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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