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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. court — of a king
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. court — for sport
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. court — of law
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. stand — to bear
  14. spring — a coil
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. spring — of water
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. spring — the season
  21. foot — a measure
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. nail — for a hammer

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