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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. toast — bread
  3. deal — to handle
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. stem — to come from
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. board — to get on
  18. sharp — clever
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. board — a committee
  24. temple — a place of worship

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