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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: foot · temple · lie · hide · jam · leaves · row · bay

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. lie — to recline
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. foot — a measure
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. row — a line
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. row — to paddle
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. lie — an untruth

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