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

Word bank: lie · plane · spell · race · jam · stand · dip · temple

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. plane — a tool
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. race — humankind
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. spell — letters
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. race — a contest
  12. spell — magic
  13. stand — to bear
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. race — the arms race
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. lie — to recline
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. dip — to sink
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. stand — on your feet

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