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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 fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. bound — certain
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bass — low music
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bound — tied together
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. staff — employees
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. staff — employees
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. rest — a break
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lie — to recline
  20. staff — a stick
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. mouse — the animal

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