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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. shower — rain
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. shower — to wash
  7. suit — to fit
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pit — in a race
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. suit — in cards
  16. pit — a hole
  17. suit — clothes
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. vault — a safe

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