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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: roll · lie · mug · scale · pitcher · temple · leaves · trunk

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. roll — a list
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. lie — to recline
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. roll — a cake
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mug — to rob
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. mug — a cup
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. scale — in music
  19. mug — a face
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. scale — size or range

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