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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — to rob
  5. lie — to recline
  6. roll — a list
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. roll — a cake
  9. suit — to fit
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. suit — clothes
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. dip — to sink
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mug — a cup
  19. foot — a measure
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. roll — on a roll

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