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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. suit — clothes
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. suit — in cards
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. wake — a trail
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. fine — all right
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. rest — a break
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. rest — what's left
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — high quality
  22. stand — to bear
  23. rest — what's left
  24. suit — to fit

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