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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. lean — to bend
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. mate — a friend
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mate — to breed
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. lean — thin
  16. season — of the year
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. deal — to handle
  19. mate — a partner
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. foot — a measure
  24. season — in sport

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