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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. lie — to recline
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. swing — in golf
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. swing — music
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. swing — to play on
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. toast — bread

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