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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. firm — decided
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. season — of the year
  5. lie — to recline
  6. track — a path
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. spell — magic
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. season — in sport
  14. spell — a short time
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. track — a song
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. spell — letters
  19. track — to keep track
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. firm — a company
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. firm — steady

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