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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. snap — to click
  8. ground — a position
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. board — to get on
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ground — crushed
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. board — a committee
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. prune — to trim
  20. ball — a great time
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rush — hurry
  24. ball — a dance

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