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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. lie — to recline
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. mug — to rob
  6. rest — a break
  7. rest — what's left
  8. mug — a cup
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. mug — a face
  24. ruler — a monarch

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