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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. foot — a measure
  4. ball — a great time
  5. fall — to drop
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. game — wild animals
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ball — a dance
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. rush — hurry
  17. fall — to drop
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. game — a match
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rest — a break
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — what's left

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