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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cell — a phone
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mug — to rob
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bear — the animal
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — to trim
  12. craft — boats
  13. mug — a face
  14. craft — a skill
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. cell — in biology
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. temple — side of the head

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