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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. board — a committee
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. squash — the sport
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. stem — to come from
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. squash — to crush
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. lie — to recline
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. deal — to handle
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. board — to get on
  24. lie — an untruth

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