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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. march — music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — a trace
  6. rock — music
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. march — the month
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. roll — a list
  11. can — to be able to
  12. march — the month
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. can — a tin
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. rest — what's left
  23. can — a tin
  24. temple — a place of worship

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