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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. present — a gift
  7. rock — music
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ground — a position
  13. present — there
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lie — to recline
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. ball — a great time
  18. rock — a stone
  19. present — the time now
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. temple — side of the head

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