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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. sharp — clever
  3. fork — in a road
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. staff — employees
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. can — to be able to
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. staff — employees
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. can — a tin
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — a tin
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. staff — a stick
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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