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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. court — of a king
  5. court — for sport
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. court — of law
  8. object — an aim
  9. object — a thing
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. sharp — clever
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. lie — to recline
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. object — to protest
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. cabinet — ministers

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