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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. swing — music
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. swing — in golf
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. deal — to handle
  8. rash — a series
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. roll — a list
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. rash — hasty
  14. swing — to play on
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. roll — a cake
  21. lie — to recline
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. lie — an untruth

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