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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. face — part of the head
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bore — to drill
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. firm — decided
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. firm — steady
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — in music
  16. firm — a company
  17. face — to confront
  18. dip — to sink
  19. bore — to tire
  20. face — to point toward
  21. foot — a measure
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. key — the most important part

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