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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. object — a thing
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. net — after costs
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. net — for catching
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. lie — to recline
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. object — to protest
  12. lean — to bend
  13. object — an aim
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. net — in sport
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. lean — thin
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. tube — a container
  23. mark — a grade
  24. tube — the underground

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