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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 120 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 trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. rock — a stone
  4. pit — a hole
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. saw — the tool
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. dip — to sink
  11. saw — the tool
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lean — thin
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. pit — in a race
  16. foot — a measure
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. rock — music
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. lean — to bend
  24. foot — part of the body

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