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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. band — a music group
  5. band — a ring
  6. game — wild animals
  7. game — a match
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. suit — clothes
  11. pit — in a race
  12. suit — in cards
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. sharp — clever
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. pit — a hole
  23. suit — to fit
  24. temple — a place of worship

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