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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. chest — of your body
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. chest — of your body
  10. row — a line
  11. can — a tin
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. lie — to recline
  15. row — to paddle
  16. chest — a box
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mark — a trace
  21. rash — a series
  22. can — to be able to
  23. rash — hasty
  24. mark — to pay attention

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